Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey

The Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey team represents Northeastern University. The Huskies play in the Hockey East conference.

History The women's varsity hockey program started in 1980 under Don MacLeod, who was named the coach the following season and led the program for ten seasons. Northeastern became the first national power in collegiate women's hockey under his direction. MacLeod was a former Massachusetts high school hockey coach at both Georgetown Junior/Senior High School and Saugus High School. Starting in the 1982–83 season, the Huskies had thirteen consecutive winning seasons, including six straight seasons of twenty or more wins between 1986–87 and 1991–92.

The program's best record was in 1987–88, when the undefeated squad finished 26–0–1, winning its first of three ECAC titles (the others coming in 1989 and 1997), at the time the effective national women's college championship. Northeastern has also been the ECAC finalist seven times, as well as winning twenty women's Beanpot tournaments, including nine straight between 1984 and 1991–92. The Huskies' all-time best mark for wins was in 2022–23 with 34 so far.

The program's career scoring leader is Alina Müller, currently with 98 goals and 156 assists for 254 points, while Kendall Coyne is the career goals leader with 141. Coyne also holds the single season goal and points record with 50 goals and 84 points in the 2015–2016 season. The previous single-season goal and points leader was Vicky Sunohara, with 51 goals and 78 points in 1988–89.

From 2017–2024, the Huskies played in eight consecutive Hockey East championships, winning six in a row from 2018–2023. Alina Müller (2019–2020, 2021–2022, 2022–2023) and Aerin Frankel (2017–2018, 2018–2019, 2020–2021) won the tournament MVP honors. The Huskies set a record for most goals in a women's Hockey East championship game with their 9–1 win over the University of Connecticut Huskies in 2020.

Roster As of January 25, 2026.

Season-by-season results Won championshipLost championshipConference championsLeague leader

Year Coach W L T Conference Conf. W Conf. L Conf. T Finish Conference Tournament NCAA Tournament2025–26 Dave Flint 29 8 1 Hockey East 21 2 1 1st HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Boston University Won Semifinals vs. Vermont Lost Championship vs. Connecticut Won Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Lost Semifinals vs. Ohio State 2024–25 Dave Flint 22 14 1 Hockey East 15 11 1 5th HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Providence Won Semifinals vs. Connecticut Lost Championship vs. Boston University Did not qualify2023–24 Dave Flint 25 11 3 Hockey East 16 8 3 2nd HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Merrimack Won Semifinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Championship vs. Connecticut Did not qualify2022–23 Dave Flint 34 2 1 Hockey East 24 2 1 1st HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Merrimack Won Semifinals vs. Boston College Won Championship vs. Providence Won Quarterfinals vs. Yale Lost Semifinals vs. Ohio State 2021–22 Dave Flint 31 5 2 Hockey East 21 3 2 1st HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Merrimack Won Semifinals vs. Maine Won Championship vs. Connecticut Won Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Lost Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth 2020–21 Dave Flint 22 2 1 Hockey East 17 1 1 1st HE Won Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire Won Semifinals vs. Connecticut Won Championship vs. Providence Won Quarterfinals vs. Robert Morris Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin 2019–20 Dave Flint 32 4 2 Hockey East 24 3 0 1st HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Vermont Won Semifinals vs. Maine Won Championship vs. Connecticut Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States2018–19 Dave Flint 27 5 5 Hockey East 21 3 3 1st HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Vermont Won Semifinals vs. Providence Won Championship vs. Boston College Lost Quarterfinals vs. Cornell 2017–18 Dave Flint 19 17 3 Hockey East 11 11 2 4th HE Won Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire Won Semifinals vs. Maine Won Championship vs. Connecticut Lost Quarterfinals vs. Colgate 2016–17 Dave Flint 22 12 3 Hockey East 14 8 2 2nd HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Connecticut Won Semifinals vs. Boston University Lost Championship vs. Boston College Did not qualify2015–16 Dave Flint 28 9 1 Hockey East 20 4 0 2nd HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Providence Lost Semifinals vs. Boston University Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston College 2014–15 Dave Flint 14 17 5 Hockey East 11 8 2 3rd HE Won Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Semifinals vs. Boston University Did not qualify2013–14 Dave Flint 19 14 2 Hockey East 13 6 2 3rd HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Connecticut Lost Semifinals vs. Boston University Did not qualify2012–13 Dave Flint 23 11 2 Hockey East 13 7 1 3rd HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Vermont Won Semifinals vs. Boston College Lost Championship vs. Boston University Did not qualify2011–12 Dave Flint 22 7 4 Hockey East 15 3 3 1st HE Lost Semifinals vs. Providence Did not qualify 2010–11 Dave Flint 16 13 8 Hockey East 6 10 5 5th HE Won Quarterfinals vs. Connecticut Won Semifinals vs. Boston University Lost Championship vs. Boston College Did not qualify 2009–10 Dave Flint 17 9 7 Hockey East 9 6 6 4th HE Lost Quarterfinals vs. Connecticut Did not qualify 2008–09 Dave Flint 12 20 3 Hockey East 7 13 1 6th HE Lost Quarterfinals vs. Boston University Did not qualify 2007–08 Laura Schuler 7 24 3 Hockey East 6 14 1 6th HE Did not qualify Did not qualify 2006–07 Laura Schuler 5 26 2 Hockey East 4 15 2 7th HE Did not qualify Did not qualify 2005–06 Laura Schuler 8 24 1 Hockey East 6 14 1 7th HE Did not qualify Did not qualify 2004–05 Laura Schuler 3 25 4 Hockey East 2 15 3 6th HE Did not qualify Did not qualify 2003–04 Joy Woog 13 13 8 Hockey East 7 9 4 4th HE Lost Semifinals vs. New Hampshire Did not qualify 2002–03 Joy Woog 9 18 4 Hockey East 4 10 1 5th HE Did not qualify Did not qualify 2001–02 Joy Woog 27 7 1 ECAC Eastern 15 5 1 2nd ECAC E. Won Quarterfinals vs. Boston College Won Semifinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Championship vs. Providence Did not qualify 2000–01 Joy Woog 16 15 1 ECAC 13 10 1 5th ECAC Lost Quarterfinals vs. Brown Did not qualify 1999–2000 Heather Lindstad 22 9 3 ECAC 15 6 3 7th ECAC Won Quarterfinals vs. New Hampshire Lost Semifinals vs. Brown Did not qualify 1998–99 Heather Lindstad 22 7 3 ECAC 18 5 3 4th ECAC Won Quarterfinals vs. Providence Lost Semifinals vs. New Hampshire Did not qualify

Beanpot

The Northeastern women have historically found success in the Beanpot, winning 20 of 46 tournaments and compiling a 56–31–6 record through 2025. The Huskies appeared in 16 straight finals, from 1983 to 1998, winning 13 of those tournaments, including 9 straight. The Huskies have qualified for the Beanpot finals 31 times through 2025: March 17, 1979: Northeastern 3, Boston College 1 February 24, 1980: Northeastern 7, Harvard 1 February 18, 1983: Northeastern 7, Harvard 1 February 17, 1984: Northeastern 7, Harvard 1 February 12, 1985: Northeastern 7, Boston College 0 February 11, 1986: Northeastern 7, Harvard 0 February 10, 1987: Northeastern 7, Harvard 1 February 9, 1988: Northeastern 5, Harvard 1 February 14, 1989: Northeastern 9, Harvard 0 February 13, 1990: Northeastern 3, Harvard 2 February 12, 1991: Northeastern 2, Harvard 1 February 11, 1992: Harvard 3, Northeastern 0 February 9, 1993: Brown 3, Northeastern 0 February 15, 1994: Northeastern 6, Harvard 2 February 14, 1995: Harvard 3, Northeastern 2 February 13, 1996: Northeastern 4, Boston College 3 (OT) February 11, 1997: Northeastern 8, Harvard 1 February 10, 1998: Northeastern 5, Harvard 4 February 15, 2000: Harvard 4, Northeastern 3 (OT) February 13, 2001: Harvard 4, Northeastern 3 (OT) February 10, 2004, Harvard 5, Northeastern 1 February 9, 2010: Harvard 1, Northeastern 0 February 7, 2012: Northeastern 4, Boston University 3 (OT) February 12, 2013: Northeastern 4, Boston College 3 February 11, 2014: Boston College 3, Northeastern 0 February 9, 2016: Boston College 7, Northeastern 0 February 7, 2017: Boston College 2, Northeastern 1 February 11, 2020: Northeastern 4, Boston University 3 (2-OT) 2021: Cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic February 14, 2023: Northeastern 2, Boston College 1 January 23, 2024: Northeastern 2, Boston University 1 (OT) January 21, 2025: Northeastern 4, Boston University 0

Notable alumni Among notable players for Northeastern have been former Canadian national team captain Vicky Sunohara, United States national team goaltender Kelly Dyer who was also the second woman to play professional ice hockey in North America, United States national team goaltender Chanda Gunn, ten-time United States national team member Shelley Looney, 2002 collegiate women's player of the year Brooke Whitney, and long time Canadian national team member and Olympic medalist Laura Schuler. Chelsey Goldberg is now a professional ice hockey player.

The following Huskies have played on the United States national team: Tina Cardinale (1990, 1992), Kendall Coyne (2010–26), Aerin Frankel (2019-2022), Chanda Gunn (2004-2007), Kim Haman (1992), Shelley Looney (1992-2006), Gwyneth Phillips (2024-2026), Hayley Scamurra (2019-2026), Erika Silva (2004), Jeanine Sobek (1990, 1992, 1994–96), Brooke White (2001, 2004), Hilary Witt (2001). Laura Schuler (1990-1998) and Vicky Sunohara (1990-2006) represented Canada. Florence Schelling was the goaltender of the Switzerland national team (2004–2018) while Alessia Baechler (2022-2026), Julia Marty (2004-2015), Alina Müller (2013-2026), and Ivana Wey (2026) have also played for Switzerland. Additionally, Rachel Llanes (2009-2014) represented China, Denisa Křîžová (2011-2026) represented Czechia, Chloé Aurard-Bushee (2015-2026) represented France

Hilary Witt

Witt came to Northeastern University in 1996 from Canton High School in Canton, Massachusetts. In hockey she played on the Assabet Valley Club team for four years while they won two National Championships. In her freshman year, she helped the Huskies to a 27–9 season and the 1997 ECAC Championship. Witt scored two goals, including the game winner, in the 3–2 title win over New Hampshire and as a rookie was named the tournament MVP. She led the team in scoring that season with 24 goals.

In Witt's sophomore season she led the team in scoring once again with 32 goals, and her 58 points (ranked in the nation's top 10). She was a nominee for the Patty Kazmaier Award and was voted All-ECAC. The team went 26–6–5 and qualified for the ECAC Tournament and the semifinals of the first ever women's hockey National Championship.

As a junior, Witt led NU with 27 goals, and was in the nation's top 10 in scoring. Once again, she was a Kazmaier nominee. The team went 25–7–3 and went on to the ECAC Tournament. Witt captained Northeastern's 1999–2000 team to a 22–9–3 season and another post-season appearance. She led NU in scoring with 30 goals for the fourth consecutive year. In terms of scoring, was in the nation's top 10, and was voted All-ECAC. Also, for the third year in a row she was a Kazmaier candidate. On February 10, 2010, she was inducted into the Women's Beanpot Hall of Fame. The induction honors her performance as a player for Northeastern in the annual tournament featuring the four Boston-area women's hockey teams. The ceremony was held prior to the Beanpot Championship game at Harvard's Bright Center.

Olympians