Northeastern Huskies

The Northeastern University Huskies are the athletic teams representing Northeastern University. They compete in thirteen varsity team sports: men's and women's hockey (in Hockey East); men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's field hockey and volleyball, swimming, and men's and women's soccer (in the Colonial Athletic Association), and men's and women's rowing, track and cross-country.

The NU mascot is Paws. The school colors are red and black with white trim. The fight song, "All Hail, Northeastern," was composed by Charles A. Pethybridge, Class of 1932.

While Northeastern has won numerous conference championships there has only been one man ever crowned NCAA Champion. Boris Djerassi won the 1975 NCAA Championship in the hammer throw.

Principal athletic facilities include Matthews Arena, the world's oldest indoor ice hockey arena (capacity: 4,666 for hockey, 5,250 for basketball), Friedman Diamond (3,000 for baseball), Bartletta Natatorium (500), Cabot Center (2,500 for basketball), the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center (3,500) and the Henderson Boathouse.

Men's hockey


The men's ice hockey program has existed since 1929 and played as an independent NCAA Division I team until joining the ECAC in 1961. Northeastern is a founding member of the Hockey East athletic conference, which the team joined in 1984. The Huskies' men's hockey team has generally met with mediocre success. The Huskies had their most success in the 1980s, when the team won the prestigious Beanpot tournament four times (the only times Northeastern has captured the Beanpot) and was the runner-up twice. Its best season came in 1982, when the Huskies finished 25-9-2 and made it to the NCAA Frozen Four. They also won the Hockey East championship in 1988, and made appearances in the NCAA hockey tournament in 1988, 1994, and 2009.

The program's most notable coach was ex-Boston Bruin and Hockey Hall of Famer Fern Flaman, who was the head coach between 1970 and 1989. The team's current coach is former New York Islanders' farm system coach Greg Cronin, who has coached the Huskies since 2005. Through the end of the 2011 regular season, Cronin has had a coaching record of 85-99-28. His best season so far on St. Botolph Street was the 2008-09 season, when the Huskies had their best record in a generation, finishing 25-12-4 and making the NCAA tournament, as well as being ranked at one point during the season 4th in the nation, Northeastern's highest national ranking ever in any men's team sport.

Northeastern players who have gone on to significant professional hockey careers have included David Poile '71, long time general manager of the NHL Washington Capitals and current general manager of the NHL Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues goaltender and two-time All-American Bruce Racine '88, NHL defenseman Dan McGillis, Montreal Canadiens winger Chris Nilan, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman and Hobey Baker Award finalist Jim Fahey '02. Michael Ryan '02 is currently a forward for Assat in the Finnish League. Joe Vitale '09 is currently a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goalie and Hobey Baker Award finalist Brad Thiessen '09. Jamie Oleksiak '11 was drafted in the 1st round 14th overall by the Dallas Stars.

Season-by-season records
Note: Last five seasons

Men's basketball
Northeastern is currently a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, having moved to the CAA in 2005 after many years in the America East Conference. The current men's basketball coach is Bill Coen.

For major violations, NCAA has placed Northeastern's men's basketball program on two years of probation and has reduced the program's scholarships and recruiting privileges, announced on April 24, 2009.

Notable alumni
Among notable players for Northeastern have been Boston Celtics captain and All-Star Reggie Lewis, Golden State Warriors guard Perry Moss, Olympian Dave Caligaris, All-American Pete Harris (basketball), Minnesota Timberwolves guard and NBA Champion José Juan Barea, one of the NCAA's assist leaders and Providence assistant coach Andre LaFleur, Montepaschi Siena guard Matt Janning, Al Gharafa forward Manny Adako and KK Zadar guard Chaisson Allen.

Season-by-season records
Note: This list is incomplete.

Football
Citing sparse attendance, numerous losing seasons and the expense to renovate Parsons Field - its football stadium in neighboring Brookline - to an acceptable standard, the university Board of Trustees voted on November 20, 2009, to end the football program. According to president Joseph Aoun, "Leadership requires that we make these choices. This decision allows us to focus on our existing athletic programs."

Notable alumni
Among notable players for Northeastern were Cincinnati Bengals tight end and Pro Bowler Dan Ross; Green Bay Packers lineman and Pro Bowler Sean Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers linesman Keith Willis and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Darin Jordan.

Women's hockey
The women's varsity hockey program started in 1980, and under former World Hockey Association all-star goaltender Don McLeod, who was named the coach the following season and led the program for ten seasons, became the first national power in collegiate women's hockey. Starting in the 1982 season, the lady Huskies had thirteen consecutive winning seasons, including six straight seasons of twenty or more wins between 1987 and 1992.

The program's best record was in 1988, when the undefeated squad finished 26-0-1, winning its first of three ECAC titles (the others coming in 1989 and 1997), at the time the effective national women's college championship. Northeastern has also been the ECAC finalist seven times, as well as winning fourteen women's Beanpot tournaments, including eight straight between 1984 and 1991. The Huskies' all-time best mark for wins was in 1997 with 27, a total equaled in 1992.

The program's career scoring leader is Hillary Witt with 113 goals and 95 assists for 208 points, while Fiona Rice is the career assists leader with 118. The single-season goal and points leader is Vicky Sunohara, with 51 goals and 78 points in 1989.

Notable alumnae
Among notable players for Northeastern have been current Canadian national team captain Vicky Sunohara; goaltender Kelly Dyer, the second woman to play professional ice hockey in North America; starting United States national team goaltender Chanda Gunn, ten-time United States national team member and Olympic gold medalist Shelley Looney, 2002 collegiate women's player of the year Brooke Whitney and multiple Olympic medalist Laura Schuler.

In addition, the following Huskies have played on the United States national team: Tina Cardinale, Jeanine Sobek, Brooke White-Lancette, Kim Haman, Hillary Witt and Erika Silva. Current junior Florence Schelling has been the goaltender of the Switzerland national team for the past five seasons.

Conference championships
As a part of the America East Conference from 1979-2005, the baseball program won three America East Conference Baseball Tournaments, in 1994, 1997, and 2003.

Notable alumni
Among notable players for Northeastern have been Colorado Rockies pitcher Adam Ottavino, Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Peña, New York Mets first baseman Mike Glavine, San Francisco Giants third baseman Johnny Tobin and Chicago White Sox infielder Wild Bill Hunnefield.

Notable alumni
Among notable players for Northeastern have been Olympian Bruce Bickford.

Rugby
Northeastern won the 2012 East Coast 7s Championship to qualify for the 2012 USA Rugby College 7s National Championship. The Huskies are scheduled to compete at the 2013 Collegiate Rugby Championship, a tournament broadcast live on NBC from PPL Park in Philadelphia.