Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey

History

The women's varsity hockey program started in 1980, and under former World Hockey Association all-star goaltender Don McLeod, who was named the coach the following season and led the program for ten seasons, became the first national power in collegiate women's hockey. Starting in the 1982–83 season, the lady 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 fourteen women's Beanpot tournaments, including nine straight between 1984 and 1991–92. The Huskies' all-time best mark for wins was in 1996–97 with 27, a total equaled in 2001–02.

The program's career scoring leader is Hillary Witt with 113 goals and 95 assists for 208 points, while Fiona Rice is the career assists leader with 118. The single-season goal and points leader is Vicky Sunohara, with 51 goals and 78 points in 1988-89.

Beanpot

The Northeastern women have historically found success in the Beanpot, winning 17 of 36 tournaments and compiling a 48-23-1 record through 2014. 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 25 times through 2014:

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

Notable alums

Among notable players for Northeastern have been former Canadian national team captain Vicky Sunohara, United States national team goaltender Kelly Dyer who was also notably 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.

In addition, the following Huskies have played on the United States national team: Tina Cardinale (1990, 1992), Kendall Coyne (2010–12), Kim Haman (1992), Erika Silva (2004), Jeanine Sobek (1990, 1992, 1994–96), Brooke White (2001, 2004), Hillary Witt (2001). Additionally, current Husky Florence Schelling has been the goaltender of the Switzerland national team since 2004.

Hilary Witt

Witt came to Northeastern University in 1996 with a strong athletic resume 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. She was also 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.

Award Winners and Honorees

Patty Kazmaier Award

Brooke Whitney (2001–02)

Kendall Coyne (2015–16)

Division I All-American

First Team

Chanda Gunn (2003–04)

Florence Schelling (2011–12)

Erika Silva (2000–01)

Brooke Whitney (2001–02)

Second Team

Kendall Coyne (2012–13)

Kim Greene (2001–02)

Chanda Gunn (2001–02)

Florence Schelling (2009–10)

Jaime Totten (1998–99)

Brooke Whitney (2000–01)

Humanitarian Award

Missy Elumba (2008–09)

Chanda Gunn (2003–04)

NCAA Sportsmanship Award

Chanda Gunn (2003–04)

NCAA Today's Top 10 Award

Kendall Coyne (2017)

Honda Inspiration Award

Chanda Gunn (2003–04)

Conference Player of the Year

Chanda Gunn (HEA: 2003-04)

Shelley Looney (ECAC: 1993-94)

Florence Schelling (HEA: 2009-10, 2011–12)

Brooke Whitney (ECAC Eastern: 2001-02)

Conference Rookie of the Year

Kendall Coyne (HEA: 2011-12)

Vicky Sunohara (ECAC: 1988-89)

Conference Goalie of the Year

Chanda Gunn (HEA: 2003-04)

Florence Schelling (HEA: 2011-12)

Erika Silva (ECAC: 2000-01)

Bauer Goaltending Champion

Florence Schelling (2009–10, 2011–12)

Conference Tournament MVP

Chanda Gunn (ECAC Eastern: 2002)

Shelley Looney (ECAC: 1993)

Hilary Witt (ECAC: 1997)

"Three-Stars" Award

Kendall Coyne (2012–13)

Chanda Gunn (2003–04)

Florence Schelling (2011–12)

Leah Sulyma (2007–08)

All-Hockey East

First Team

Kendall Coyne (2011–12, 2012–13)

Chanda Gunn (2003–04)

Florence Schelling (2009–10, 2011–12)

Second Team

Lori DiGiacomo (2004–05)

Chanda Gunn (2002–03)

Theresa Ella (2003–04)

Amy Goodney (2003–04)

Stephanie Gavronsky (2011–12)

Casey Pickett (2011–12, 2012–13)

All-ECAC Eastern

First Team

Kim Greene (2001–02)

Brooke White (2001–02)

Brooke Whitney (2001–02)

Second Team

Chanda Gunn (2001–02)

All-ECAC

First Team

Michelle DiStefano (1993–94)

Shelley Looney (1993–94)

Erika Silva (2000–01)

Jeanine Sobek (1993–94)

Jaime Totten (1997–98)

Brooke Whitney (2000–01)

Second Team

Hilary Witt (1997–98, 1999-00)

Jaime Totten (1998–99)

Northeastern Hall of Fame

Tina Cardinale (2002)

Kelly Dyer (1995)

Chanda Gunn (2012)

Shelley Looney (1999)

Donna-Lynn Rosa (2009)

Laura Schuler (2004)

Carolyn Sullivan (2011)

Brooke Whitney (2008)

Hilary Witt (2005)

Beanpot Awards

Most Valuable Player award

1979 Diane DerBogoshian

1980 Diane Sorrenti

1984 Stephanie Kelly

1985 Tracy Hill

1986 Nina Koyama

1987 Fiona Rice

1988 Tina Cardinale

1989 Vicky Sunohara

1990 Julie Piacentini

1993 Kim Haman

1994 Shelley Looney

1996 Jessica Wagner

1997 Stephanie Acres

1998 Lisa Giovanelli

2012 Casey Pickett

2013 Kendall Coyne

Bertagna Award (top goalie)

2000 Erika Silva

2001 Erika Silva

2012 Florence Schelling

2013 Chloe Desjardins

Hall of Fame

Diane DerBoghosian (Inducted in 2008)

Kelly Dyer Hayes (Inducted in 2013)

Don MacLeod (Head Coach) (Inducted in 2012)

Julie Pacientini (Inducted in 2009)

Kathryn Waldo (Inducted in 2011)

Hilary Witt (Inducted in 2010)