Dave Flint signed a multi-year extension as Northeastern’s women’s hockey coach, the team announced June 3.
The renewal comes after the Huskies surpassed expectations and reached the Frozen Four for the fourth time in program history. Flint builds his teams back to front, and it’s made him the winningest coach in Northeastern women’s hockey history and the 10th all-time in NCAA women’s hockey history.
“With our incredible new facility on the horizon, the future of Northeastern women’s hockey has never been brighter,” Flint said in a June 8 press release. “We have built a culture of success here that I am deeply proud of, and there is still so much more I want to accomplish. I cannot wait to see what this program continues to achieve.”
Flint arrived at Northeastern in 2008 from St. Anselm College and has seen the Huskies through four Frozen Four appearances, eight NCAA tournament appearances, six Hockey East tournament championships and six Beanpot championships. Northeastern won the first two women’s Beanpots at TD Garden under Flint’s watch.
He surrounded himself with a coaching staff including Nick Carpenito, Lindsay Berman and Melissa Piacentini, coaches who recruited and trained offensive stars, including forward Lily Shannon, freshman forward Stryker Zablocki and incoming freshman forward Ivana Wey.
His former goaltenders, including Olympians Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips, say his collaborative instincts made him stand out as a coach.
“His character is honestly a big reason why we’ve been so successful,” Philips said in a March 2025 interview with The Huntington News. “He’s very honest and very helpful. As a goalie, sometimes you’re put in weird positions, and it helps to know your coach has your back.”
While goaltending can be deprioritized with head coaches who haven’t been in the position, Flint’s perspective as a former goaltender himself for North Adams State College — now the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts — and leading the goaltending unit gives him a unique perspective, players said.
“[After pitching something new], we’ll have another discussion of, like, ‘All right, what do you think?’” Flint said in a March 2025 interview with The News. “I want them to be comfortable when they’re in the goal.”
The recruitment of Philips and Frankel, as well as his ability to communicate with exceptional goaltenders like Philips as they wait on the bench for their turn, earned him a place in an ALLEZ! Sports documentary following the pair of goaltenders before the 2026 Olympics. In a March 2025 interview, Frankel said she still turns to Flint for advice and to bounce ideas off of him.
As the team heads into two seasons without a home rink, the stability the long-term coach brings will be vital. With Flint’s prowess as a goaltending coach and ability to build a dynasty, Northeastern will look to build a championship-winning bench.
