After a year and a half in Boston, sophomore defender Tuva Kandell has left Northeastern for the professional Swedish team Frölunda Hockey Club, which is currently first place in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.
“It feels right to me. To come back to Sweden, family and friends and enjoy hockey again,” the Leksand, Sweden, native said in a translated statement from Frölunda Oct. 29. “Coming back is the right step for me. I want to be a part of Frölunda, and it feels inspiring to try to go for another Swedish championship gold.”
Her last game for the Huskies was Oct. 18 against Quinnipiac University. In her six games for the Huskies this season, Kandell collected one goal and two assists. The last time she represented Sweden was in 2022 at the U18 World Championships, where she was named Best Defender. She is signed through the next season with Frölunda.
This past summer, Kandell made her senior national team debut for Sweden, although she was ultimately omitted from the roster for the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour.
Last season, Kandell notched four goals, 16 assists and 57 shots. Her 20 points were the most made by a Husky rookie defenseman since the 1999-2000 season.
She was named to the All-USCHO Rookie Team, as well as Hockey East’s Third Team All-Star, All-Rookie and All-Academic teams.
