UMD Athletics

One of the more unheralded members of the Bulldog support staff, Chris Garner will embark on his 14th season as UMD’s hockey equipment manager in 2021-22.

A Rochester, Minn., product, Garner owns somewhat of an extensive resume, having previously spent one year serving as the head equipment manager with the Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League, and another season (2003-04) as an assistant with the Minnesota Wild’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Houston Aeros. He also was the head equipment manager for the University of North Dakota’s women’s program during its inaugural season of competition (2002-03) and prior to that, honed his skills as the head student equipment manager at St. Cloud State University between 1998-2002.

Garner has also made a name for himself on the international scene with Team USA, handling the equipment manager responsibilities for the gold medal-winners at the 2017 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic and at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in Aberta, Canada. He'll serve in that same capacity later this year at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trincec, Czech Republic.

Garner played four years of hockey (1993-97) at Rochester Mayo High School before moving on to St. Cloud State where he earned a Bachelor of Elective Studies degree with an emphasis in sports management in 2006.