Northeastern women’s hockey is coming off a season like no other. The team ended its 2025-26 run with a trip to the Frozen Four, and without a home rink. 

Now, time will tell if the team can keep that momentum or if the unprecedented rink situation will undermine it. 

So far this offseason, Northeastern emerged largely successful from the transfer portal, named its four-player leadership group for the 2026-27 season and has a promising Swiss commit, forward Ivana Wey, coming in September.

Rising senior defender Rylie Jones and rising graduate student defender Kristina Allard will be at the helm this season as captains, alongside two alternate captains; rising junior forward Ellie Mabardy and rising junior goaltender Lisa Jönsson. 

Allard served as alternate captain for the past two seasons and stepped up as a defensive force last season, notching 48 blocks and 16 points, amid turnover in the unit. Jones collected 58 blocks and 16 points last season.

“It was very clear that our players knew who the leaders were because those four players by far got the most votes for captain,” said head coach Dave Flint. “I feel really good about the leadership that we have in place and in the team.”

Allard sees Northeastern’s biggest selling point as its “incredible culture,” and it is now up to her and Jones to maintain it. 

“Just making sure that when we come in day one [hitting] the ground running, and knowing that it’s going to be an adjustment not having a home rink, but knowing that we have each other still in that process is the most important,” Allard said.  

Jones and Allard believe that the initial semester spent without a rink helped bond the team, as it meant spending more time together on bus rides to and from practice and games.

“It brings a tightness to the team. We have to bus together to the rink and basically do everything together because we’re all going to one place, so I think if we can continue to foster that tight-knit culture that we built, we’re going to be fine,” Allard said. 

Last season, the team’s perhaps unexpected trip to the Frozen Four for the fourth time in program history united the team, and the captains hope it will continue to motivate players. For most of the current players, it was their first time at the tournament, something that Jones and Allard hope will set a new expectation.

“We know that we can achieve and strive for more, so just looking to build on that this coming year, but also knowing that [the Frozen Four] is something that is completely attainable and surpassable,” Jones said. 

Northeastern women’s hockey is well represented in the PWHL, with 11 alumnae, which can be a pull for young athletes. Three years ago, playing college hockey was the highest achievement that most women players could hope for. Now, the finish line has shifted dramatically in a short time. 

“It’s an incredible opportunity … that the girls that are on their way out can look forward to and really set their eyes on,” Allard said. “The alumni in the league and seeing the possibility for  Northeastern women’s hockey is really a driving factor too.” 

Going into the transfer portal, staff were admittedly “a little concerned that we might not be able to get any players just because of our arena situation,” Flint said.

The now-demolished Matthews Arena was a selling point for the program both because of its convenient on-campus location and 115-year-old legacy. As the original home of the Bruins and the oldest hockey arena in the world, many athletes touted it as the reason they became a Husky. Moving forward, Flint has increasingly relied on Northeastern’s academic prestige and co-op program to attract recruits. 

“Some players are willing to sacrifice not having a rink to be part of a good team and a team that has a strong culture. I don’t think it really even hurt us in the transfer portal,” he said. “I think there are some student-athletes that maybe value their education more than other players, and those are the players that we want in our program anyways.”

The team emerged from the transfer portal with Minnesota-Duluth rising senior forward Grace Sadura and rising junior defender Kamdyn Davis. Flint recruited Davis “years ago.” After two seasons where she notched a combined five points and 41 blocks, the junior will finally join the Huskies.

“She’s very good defensively, tough, physical, great speed, she’s fast,” he said. “So I think she makes our defense better and deeper.”

Sadura was a “nice surprise,” Flint said. After finishing her degree at Minnesota-Duluth in three years, she wanted to spend her final year of eligibility in Boston. Sadura was previously an alternate captain and finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, so Flint hopes she’ll bring additional leadership experience. She’s also a force on the ice, notching eight goals and six assists last season. 

“She’ll give us depth in our top nine forwards. She’s played at a high level and been to the NCAA tournament. She’s been a leader,” Flint said. 

Northeastern’s only departure was junior defender Tristan Thompson, who committed to St. Cloud State University. 

As for freshman recruits, Northeastern is coming in with yet another top class, including Wey. She’s the only freshman Flint said “is going to obviously step in and play right away.”

Wey played in Switzerland’s PostFinance Women’s League last season, where she notched 18 goals and 30 assists before becoming a part of Switzerland’s Olympic bronze team, alongside sophomore defender Alessia Baechler, with two assists. 

“Ivana is going to really make our top six better. She’s one of the best players in the world at such a young age,” Flint said. 

Northeastern has historically managed to recruit some of Switzerland’s biggest stars like no other program. The legacy consists of PWHL and Olympic skaters like Alina Müller, Florence Schelling and Julia Marty, which, Flint said, “helped us get Alessia, which helps us get Ivana.” 

Ava Scannell will also join the team as Flint’s newest goaltender behind Jönsson and rising sophomore Renna Trembecky; Northeastern is well-known for keeping an arsenal of three capable goaltenders at all times.

“We have two exceptional goalies returning, so [Scannell’s] job is to push them every day, learn from them, get better so when her opportunity comes later on down the line, she’ll be ready,” Flint said.

Other commits include defender Tess Martin, who was previously committed to Harvard University, and is coming from Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep in Faribault, Minn. Forwards include Soren Biderman, who notched 35 points last season with Durham West Jr. Lightning; Adela Pankova, who had 13 points on Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 19U; and Lilly McInerney, who played for Phillips Academy last season. Northeastern has not yet released an official roster.