In the league’s largest draft pool in history, four former Northeastern women’s hockey players were selected in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League, or PWHL, draft June 17. They will join a growing Husky presence in the league, putting women’s hockey on the map.
The Vancouver Goldeneyes selected defender Jules Constantinople, PWHL San Jose selected former captain and forward Lily Shannon, former assistant captain and forward Jaden Bogden is staying in Boston to join the Fleet and defender Tory Mariano is joining the Ottawa Charge.
After four expansion teams were added to the PWHL, a record total of 236 players entered the 2026 draft. Each of the 12 teams selected six players. Northeastern’s head coach Dave Flint was at Fox Theater in Detroit to help PWHL Las Vegas at the draft table.
“[Flint] was so happy for me,” Constantinople said. “And honestly, I could thank him for everything.”
Defenders were a hot commodity come draft night with Constantinople’s fiery two-way game and ability to hype up her team making her the highest Northeastern pick of the night at 25th in the third round.
“My journey through Northeastern was the best four years I could have asked for, especially this year. We made it to as far as the Frozen Four, and it was a dream come true,” said Constantinople, who is from East Haven, Conn.
Mariano, Shannon and Constantinople were at the draft in-person.
“It’s been unreal. We’ve been teammates for four years, and Lily’s been my roommate for four years, so having them by my side and being by them, it’s just an award in itself,” Constantinople said.
A native of Andover, Mass., playing in San Jose will be Shannon’s first time west of Wyoming. She’ll join the team for its inaugural season alongside Wisconsin’s star forward Laila Edwards and UConn’s goaltender Tia Chan. Shannon was selected 40th overall in the fourth round.
“[I’m] super excited and super grateful and everyone that’s helped me get here I don’t know what I would do without them,” Shannon said in a press conference following the draft.
Mariano committed to a five-year degree in biology before the PWHL’s creation in 2024. Although she finished her final season of eligibility in the NCAA last season, she remained enrolled in Northeastern classes and trained independently. She was drafted 47th overall in the fourth round to Ottawa, where she’ll join former Northeastern teammate Alina Müller.
“Not having a team environment for the past year has been hard, but I’m so excited to bring myself into a team environment and just be around all the girls,” she said.
The night before the draft,Northeastern alumnae goaltender Aerin Frankel won PWHL MVP at the league’s awards.
Bogden will be the only Husky to join the Boston Fleet next year, joining Frankel. Former assistant captain and forward Holly Abela, the only undrafted Husky, is still eligible to sign league-wide.
