Location Boston, Massachusetts Founded 1980 | Colors Red and Black | |
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Head coach Dave Flint3rd year, 29–29–10 |
The Northeastern women's ice hockey team represents Northeastern University. The Huskies play in the Hockey East conference.
Contents
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:
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
Division I All-American
Humanitarian Award
NCAA Sportsmanship Award
NCAA Today's Top 10 Award
Honda Inspiration Award
Conference Player of the Year
Conference Rookie of the Year
Conference Goalie of the Year
Bauer Goaltending Champion
Conference Tournament MVP
"Three-Stars" Award
All-Hockey East
All-ECAC Eastern
All-ECAC
Northeastern Hall of Fame
Beanpot Awards
Most Valuable Player award
Bertagna Award (top goalie)
Hall of Fame