Northeastern boasts that it is a hockey school. Students are familiar with the Beanpot and the song “Stacy’s Mom” after a win, but Women’s Club Ice Hockey skates without much recognition.
Many of the athletes on the team did not want to leave hockey in their childhood when coming to college. Spanning across different grades and majors, the team has found a home on the ice at Matthews Arena and a family within.
Its season runs from September to March each year, only pausing during the university’s winter break. Over those seven months, the women practice three times a week, often until 11:30 p.m., and play once or twice a weekend, with about 20 games per season. The packed schedule and late night practices are just a part of the team culture, players said.
“Everyone’s there to have a good time. Even at 10 o’clock at night when we have exams and homework. That’s our getaway, on the ice,” said Claire Cook, a first-year mechanical engineering major who plays defense. She highlighted how the team always shows up, no matter what time of night or morning it is suiting up.
Its practices and games are scheduled around the other various programs using Matthews Arena, and planning is all done by the students.
“We have two coaches, but [the captains] and the presidents and the rest of the e-board are the ones who make the executive decisions,” said Stella Knight, a third-year political science and communication studies combined major who plays defense. Knight serves as one of the three captains.
Knight came to college from Minnesota, where “hockey is bigger than religion.” Like many women on the team, she started playing before she started elementary school. Club Ice Hockey gave them an outlet on campus and a team to lean on.
Another captain, forward Emily Pollis, a fourth-year health science major, had a similar path.
“I am the youngest of three, so I got put into hockey gear as soon as I fit into my older siblings’ gear,” Pollis said.
But it isn’t just about hockey for the players. While hardwork and dedication, both on and off the ice, are pillars for the team, they are out there to have fun.
“The team is full of very driven and competitive people; they want to win, but they don’t compromise on having a good time,” Cook said.
Aside from skating together on the ice, the teammates are roommates, classmates and close friends.
“Even if you’re having a bad day, even if you’re getting squashed by exams, this team is gonna hold you up and support you however you need,” Pollis said. “Whether it’s a hug, whether it’s snacks, whether it’s a shoulder to cry on. These are the best friends anyone could ask for.”
Between late night practices, tanning on Carter Field during the summers and traveling for games, many of the team’s members have found their family away from home. The older women help out the rookies with homework, class recommendations, hockey techniques and general life advice.
“The people I met are phenomenal, lifelong friends,” said Abigale Lamontagne, a fourth-year bioengineering major and the third team captain who plays forward.
Head coach Ryan Schneider highlighted the supportive nature of the team.
“I have seen a big difference in the girls who were freshmen and sophomores when I started coaching, now turning to that leadership role and really taking on a mentorship role, on and off the ice,” Schneider said.
The team travelled to St. Louis, Mo., for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Championships March 21-25 this year. While the outcome of the games were not what the girls had hoped for after losing during pool play, they made the most of their trip nonetheless.
“Playing hockey was so much fun and the main reason we were there, but the mundane moments in between playing hockey make nationals so special. Everyone was just so excited to be out of Boston, having fun, laughing and making jokes even though we didn’t do as well as we hoped,” said Dani White, a fourth-year behavioral neuroscience major who plays defense.
“As a club sport athlete, academics come before athletics, and [nationals] is the only time we have where hockey comes first,” White said.
The Huskies have gone to nationals the past few years. The three captains recalled their 2023 nationals experience fondly — the team was the runner-up in the championship game but felt it won the season.
After the 2023 championship game, the ACHA tweeted about the Northeastern team: “We’ve never had to ask the runner-up to get off the ice so the [zamboni] could come out after a championship game because they were still out there having so much fun with the experience.”
The captains agreed that tweet summed up the team, showing both how hard the players work and their prioritization of having fun while doing it.
Schneider’s younger sister, Laini Schneider, a fourth-year civil engineering major, plays as one of the team’s goalies, making the team a family affair.
“It’s always fun when family is involved, it adds a little more to the game,” Schneider.
