ECHL Player Profile: Andrew Jarvis

Position: Defenseman
Jersey Number: 25
Current Team: Atlanta Gladiators
Previous ECHL Teams: Tulsa, Allen
Education: Carleton University (General Law, Honors Degree)

Andrew Jarvis has been making waves this season with Atlanta. In 14 games, he has netted two goals, including thrilling scores against the Florida Everblades on November 14 and the Jacksonville Icemen on November 16. Now with two points to his name, while only racking up 0.71 penalty minutes per game on average, he is certainly proving to be a rising asset for the Gladiators. Additionally, he has fired 17 shots on goal, keeping the opposing goalies on their toes.

Jarvis has had an unconventional journey to professional hockey, marked by his time at Carleton University and his stints with various teams, including Tulsa and Allen. Known for his defensive reliability, leadership, and adaptability, Jarvis recently had a standout two-goal week and nearly scored again in the game against Jacksonville. He shares insights into his career, his experiences at Carleton, and his thoughts on the current season.

Jarvis began by sharing a bit about his time at Carleton University and some of the moments that stood out for him. He said, “Yeah, I was really fortunate to end up at Carleton. It kind of just fell in my lap and it was something that I really cherished. The coaching staff there gave me a real chance, really good hockey minds there and obviously the schooling. So I got to grow as a person, grow as a hockey player and yeah, I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Big moment. There was just going to nationals my first year with Carleton. Really good competition. There were a lot of pro contracts coming from that tournament and it just opened my eyes that it is possible to somewhat make a living out of it. And yeah, Carleton made that possible for me, so I’m glad I went there.”

His time at Carleton University was a pivotal time for him. He balanced his academic pursuits and hockey career, studying general law and earning an honors degree. His participation in the nationals during his first year was a standout moment, exposing him to high-level competition and professional scouts, which opened up possibility of a career in hockey for him.

“My goal was to play a handful of games. I thought that would be a lot for what the sport has given to me. So again, I’ve lucked out and I’m still playing today. So no, I didn’t think I was going to be able to play this many pro games, but it’s been nice for sure.”

–Andrew Jarvis, when asked if he always thought he would go into professional hockey.

When asked about his future plans, he mentioned, “Yeah, I wouldn’t like to go into policing or anything like that, but CBSA, which is the Canadian border security, that would be really cool. Corrections would be really cool too. I think my brother’s a corrections officer. My other brother’s a teacher too. Yeah, I think if I’m going to use my law degree, I would like to go into border security.”

We then discussed his recent performance with Atlanta, noting his previous assist stats and his sudden goal-scoring streak. Jarvis reflected, “Yeah, I’ve been waiting a little while for that. So to see that one go in was, that was huge for me. Just a little bit of confidence and then to see another one go in, just they say the flood gates, they open up after a while and hopefully that’s the case. Hopefully I can keep that going.”

He almost had his third goal in the Friday night game at home against Jacksonville, to which he commented, “I know I put that about three feet. It was very, very close. So I was like, come on! Trying to get it up and over the guy’s stick and I definitely got it up but not in.”

Looking ahead to the next game, he shared his team’s mindset, “Cliché, but it’s got to be the exact same way. I think we had 15 shots to their zero, maybe 15 minutes into the game. So that says a lot. We were really ready last night and the start’s going to be huge again. If we can kind of deflate them and the energy’s good in the building, then they’re going to kind of ball up a little bit.”

We also noted the team’s discipline, with the team’s low penalty minutes and goals against in mind. Jarvis explained, “We have a lot of games played so far compared to most teams and I feel like our goal against is pretty respectable. That’s good team defense, disciplined goaltending. It all ties into one. So it’s been good.”

“We focus a lot on maintaining our energy and keeping the pressure on the opponents. It’s about playing smart and staying disciplined. Our coach always says, ‘Move your feet, don’t take lazy penalties,’ and that’s something we really take to heart.

– Andrew Jarvis, on team’s overall strategy.

Jarvi’s strengths as a player are evident in his defensive reliability, leadership, discipline, and adaptability. He plays with a hard-nosed, gritty style and his ability to read the game and make smart decisions under pressure contributes significantly to his team’s defensive stability. His discipline and work ethic are notable. He consistently avoids taking those “lazy penalties” and stays engaged in the play. His unconventional path to professional hockey, including his time at Carleton University and his journey through various teams, highlights his adaptability. Jarvis’ resilience has certainly been a driving force in his career, allowing him to continue playing at a high level.

Finally, we asked if there was anything else he wanted to share with the fans. Andrew simply expressed his gratitude, “I’m really grateful to be here. Everybody has welcomed me with open arms and again, I’m really appreciative for it. The people here are awesome. The hospitality’s great. And I’m looking forward to finishing strong.”