Over the past eight years, Northeastern has consistently battled their way to the Hockey East Championship, navigating numerous roster changes and farewells along the way.
Last season’s heart-wrenching conclusion — a 1-0 overtime loss to the University of Connecticut — dashed the Huskies hopes for both the conference title and a coveted spot in the NCAA Tournament.
It was a highly anticipated showdown, with both teams fiercely vying for scoring opportunities to no avail. The decisive moment came from a fortuitous bounce that eluded Northeastern goaltender Gwyneth Philips, whose performance throughout the game was nothing short of remarkable; she had turned away a career-high 51 shots.
Although it was a brilliant final outing in a Huskies jersey, it was tinged with the bittersweet realization that she, along with teammates Katy Knoll, Becca Vanstone, Abbey Marohn, Peyton Cullaton, Megan Carter, and Peyton Anderson, would soon be bidding farewell to their cherished team.
Since the 2024-25 season has kicked off, it’s time to turn the page on the old guard and learn about the new faces within the Husky ranks — as well as the shoes they may hope to fill in order to hoist a trophy above their heads come March.
Lisa Jönsson, #1
Position: Goaltender
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
The first new player comes with no shortage of accolades to her name.
As a four-year member of MoDo hockey, a team in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL), Jönsson spent two years on the junior team and the rest competing amongst the top tier of female players in Sweden. In MoDo’s 2022-2023 season, she recorded a goals against average of 1.7, a save percentage of .935, and an impressive goal differential of +31 through seven games. She helped her team to earn gold in the 2023 Junior Championship, and silver in the 2024 SWHL Championship.
In the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Jönsson aided her team in achieving a fourth-place finish with a SV% of .939, and she was rewarded by being named one of Sweden’s top three players. She made her anticipated NCAA debut on Oct. 12, and allowed two goals on 26 shots in a loss against Boston University.
All of this being said, Jönsson still faces some serious competition when it comes to a starting position in the net. Senior Paige Taborski made the first five starts of the season for Northeastern against Penn State, Quinnipiac, and in the Oct. 11 game against BU, all while maintaining a GAA of 1.41 and a SV% of .939. In the first start of her college career against the Terriers on Saturday, Jönsson made 24 of 26 saves, including a perfect 5/5 on the penalty kill.
Tuva Kandell, #86
Position: Defense
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Leksand, Sweden
Like her new teammate, Kandell spent some time in the SDHL, playing for the Frölunda HC. In her most recent season, Kandell produced 15 points in 36 games. She was also a twice-U18 Swedish National Team player, and was honored with the title of Best Defender at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Kandell did not play in the series against Penn State, but her presence in front of the net against Quinnipiac and BU was critical, as she had four blocked shots.
With talented veteran defenders like Jules Constantinople and Lily Yovetich to aid her transition, it will be interesting to see how a promising young player with professional experience like Kandell will develop over the next four years. She is one of two new blueliners who will be expected to compensate for any goaltending uncertainties as the season continues.
Tristan Thompson, #27
Position: Defense
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Manotick, Ontario
Although Thompson fell in love with hockey as a child, it hasn’t been her only passion in the sports world. She also played boys lacrosse and was quarterback for her high school’s football team. However, with the PWHL now a viable option for women after their collegiate hockey careers, Thompson admitted to The Hockey News last spring that it is something she often considers. Her experience with aggressive, hard-hitting sports as well as her sheer size (6’1”) make her an asset to Northeastern’s physicality at the blue line and in dangerous battles along the boards.
Formerly captain of the St. Mark Lions and a player with the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins, Thompson has won two Regional Championships as well as a Provincial Silver Medal in 2023-2024. Her size gives her an advantage over most opponents on the ice and her skill in puck-handling and protection makes for a promising asset in front of either net. Thompson tallied 20 points with six goals and 14 assists in her most recent season with the Dolphins, and she ended the year with a grand total of 40 penalty minutes, speaking volumes to her physical-style of playing that suits the Huskies so well.
Morgan Jackson, #12
Position: Forward
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Courtenay, BC
Ranked in the Top-15 NCAA Rookies to watch this season by The Hockey News, Jackson is one of Northeastern’s most promising new players in terms of scoring potential. In the past two years, Jackson has won a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games, and a bronze medal at Canadian Nationals—as well as being named top forward after being the second highest scorer of the championship.
Jackson has been open about her hopes to continue representing Canada on the national team and, like many of her teammates, potentially in the PWHL after her career at Northeastern. Since the season began, Jackson has already been placed in the top six, displaying head coach Dave Flint’s confidence in her ability to generate points despite contributing none in the first four games. Her dedication to the sport of hockey will undoubtedly fit right in with Husky culture, and fans should keep an eye out in case her performance matches even a fraction of her Shawnigan Lake senior year record — 61 points in 23 games.
Éloïse Caron, #91
Position: Forward
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec
As a gold medalist at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship with Team Canada, Caron has no shortage of experience with high pressure, aggressive hockey. The coaching staff has high expectations for her impact on the team, demonstrated by her continuous presence on the top line and top power play unit to start the season. For the past two years, she has played with the Cégep Limoilou Titans, a team in the amateur women’s hockey league located in Quebec (RSEQ). Caron was recognized as the 2023 Rookie of the Year and earned a Provincial Championship in 2024 with the Titans.
Her 2023-2024 season with the team culminated with her tallying up an impressive 51 points with 25 goals, and she has already recorded five points with Northeastern — two goals and three assists — in the first series against Penn State and Quinnipiac. Like Jackson, Caron has been a highly anticipated and powerful forward, and it is clear so early into the season that she’s aiming to lock in her spot on the first line with Skylar Irving and Jaden Bogden. Through her first six games, Caron is tied for the team lead in points with seven, and was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Oct. 14.
Katie Davis, #19
Position: Forward
Year: Graduate Student
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Playing in 112 career games at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Katie Davis comes to Northeastern with no shortage of college hockey experience. After an injury in November of 2023 caused her to miss 16 games, Davis returned in the spring to help the Bulldogs finish fourth in the WCHA. She was AHCA All-American Scholar and WCHA Scholar Athlete two years in a row, as well as a member of the WCHA All-Academic Team in 2022 and 2023. Davis concluded her time at UMD with a career total of 16 points with an overall plus/minus of 2.
Davis spoke about her time recovering from her upper body injury to the Duluth News Tribune, saying that even if she wasn’t wearing the jersey, she was finding a way to get her teammates going with positive energy in the locker room. She also has faced — and defeated — powerful opponents like Ohio State, the team responsible for knocking Northeastern out of the NCAA Championship semifinals in 2023. This season, fans can look forward to how her speed and experience with the physicality of western teams will contribute come game time.
Jaden Bogden, #74
Position: Forward
Year: Graduate Student
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Coming from Clarkson University’s women’s hockey program, Bogden is a two-way forward that can add much needed depth on both sides of the ice. Appearing in 96 games with the Golden Knights, she tallied 19 points and was named to the ECAC All Academic Team of 2022-23. Her experience in the ECAC, and the physical style of play the league includes, should help the Huskies on both sides of the puck.
So far, that has been the case. Bogden, Skylar Irving, and Caron have demonstrated their compatibility and complementary talent, with Bogden racking up one goal and four assists in six games. Bogden’s ability to handle the puck under pressure and her consistency on the forecheck are already notable assets to Northeastern’s lineup.
As the 2024-25 season unfolds, the addition of talent from this impressive group of newcomers holds the potential to elevate Northeastern women’s hockey to new heights. With standout players like Jönsson bringing elite goaltending skills, Kandell and Thompson adding strength and defensive prowess, and forwards Jackson and Caron showcasing their scoring potential, the Huskies are well-equipped to bring intense competition in Hockey East this year. Davis and Bogden supply invaluable experience and leadership to enhance both on-ice performance and teamwork. Together, these players not only aim to fill the shoes of their predecessors but also to carve out their own legacy, driving the Huskies towards their ultimate goal of championship glory.