BOSTON - Northeastern's
Alina Mueller was selected as No. 1 overall prospect by
The Ice Garden (TIG)
for the Top 25 Under 25 recently announced by the publication. Joining Mueller on the list for the Huskies are No. 11
Aerin Frankel, No. 15
Chloe Aurard, alum
McKenna Brand at No. 19 and honorable mention selection
Skylar Fontaine. Northeastern led all schools with four returning players and five overall on the T25U25.
A two-time Olympian, Mueller is the youngest player in Olympics history to win a medal as Switzerland earned bronze at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and was named the 'Best Forward' at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games with a tournament-best 10 points in six games. She is a two-time Patty Kazmaier top-10 finalist, finishing in the top three last season, a two-time CCM/AHCA All-American and was named Hockey East Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in 2019-20. Mueller led the country with 10 game-winning goals and finished No. 2 in the NCAA with 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists).
"It's hard to categorize one player as flawless, but (Alina) Mueller is the closest you could probably come to that. No. 1 on the list is just perfect for her." says TIG's Gabriella Fundaro. "Mueller is already in the running for best player in the world, and I think it's safe to say that by the time she finally graduates from this list, she will be. Her ceiling is sky high, and she's already done plenty to prove that potential, both with the Huskies and on the international stage."
Frankel holds back-to-back Hockey East Goaltender of the Year awards and set a new single-season program record with a 1.07 goals against average and .958 save percentage last season. She tallied 10 shutouts and earned 27 wins between the pipes, while also being named a Top-10 Patty Kazmaier Finalist. Frankel was named First-Team CCM/AHCA All-American and is a three-time Hockey East All-Tournament selection, helping the Huskies to three consecutive championships.
Leighann Strollo with TIG says, "If the New York native can keep that up, she will be carving herself a spot on the national team roster ahead of some other tough competition too. I truly believe in three years, her name will be one of the top names in global women's hockey."
Aurard led the Huskies to their first Beanpot win since 2013 and record-setting 17th Beanpot win in program history. She was named Beanpot MVP after recording five points in two games and was named to the Hockey East all-star and all-tournament teams. Aurard tallied a career-best 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists), 15th in the NCAA, and joined the French National Team in 2013-14.
Michelle Jay with TIG states, "I think this spot is just right. At 21, she's got a bright future ahead of her (read above, obviously), but a shorter resume. Her sophomore season was strong and assuming she continues on this upward trend, I think we'll see her rise up to top 10 soon."
Brand, a 2017 Northeastern graduate, recorded 19 goals and 17 assists in 24 games last season with the Boston Pride (NWHL). During her senior season (2017-18) with the Huskies, she led the team in scoring with 15 goals and 19 assists and was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team. Brand ended her career with 111 points which is currently tied for 21st in program history.
Casey Brant with TIG on Brand, "
McKenna Brand was a dynamo for the top-seeded Boston Pride. Brand has been calling Massachusetts home for years, having graduated from Northeastern University as an alternate captain in 2018. She led the Huskies in points her senior season and drove the offense as their best shot generator."
Fontaine
led all of Hockey East blueliners with 17 goals and 25 assists last season which ranked second-most in the NCAA among defensemen. The junior was named Hockey East's Best Defensemen and was also named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team and a Hockey East First-Team All-Star.
Fundaro says, "For as much firepower as they have up front, Northeastern's high-flying offense would not be what it is without active players driving possession from the back-end, and Fontaine leads that charge. She can create things in transition when she carries the puck up; she's really good at getting pucks through either on net or for teammates to deflect; and, if we want to get technical about it, she hits dingers."
#HowlinHuskies
