Senior goaltender Aerin Frankel of Northeastern University won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award on March 27 as the top top player in Division I women’s hockey. Frankel, a goalie, helped lead the Huskies to a 22-2-1 record and a national runner-up finish and led the nation in nearly every statistical category, and also was honored as Hockey East player and goaltender of the year.
Frankel was born in New York City and raised in Chappaqua in Westchester County. She attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua before transferring to Minnesota’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s. She played youth hockey for the Westchester Vipers for three years. The highlights from her young career include:
Named to the 2020 U.S Women’s National Team roster for the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship
Competed against Canada as part of the 2019 Under-22 Series in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Competed in the 2019-20 Rivalry Series, earning her first win as a member of the senior women’s national team on Dec. 17 in Moncton, N.B.
Named a Top-10 Finalist for the 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
MVP of the 2018 WHEA Championship and earned WHEA All-Tournament Team honors in her freshman season at Northeastern University
Aerin is the daughter of Peter and Deborah Frankel and has one brother, Jake. Her biggest role model is Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. The NHL hockey player she models her play after is Anaheim Ducks goalie Ryan Miller. Her Personal Motto is “There is no traffic on the extra mile”
Aerin joined Ironbound Elite, whose mission is to develop female ice hockey players who aspire to compete at the highest level and reach their true potential – to advance to NCAA hockey. Their announcement reads, “Aerin started her hockey career in Westchester, NY. Since then she has gone on to be the prominent goaltender in the NCAA. She was named to the U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team for the first time in August 2019 where she competed for Team USA against Canada at Lake Placid, New York. Frankel was also selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the first time in December 2019 where she participated in the two-game Rivalry Series. The highlight came on Dec. 17, 2019, when Frankel backstopped the U.S. to a 2-1 victory against Team Canada during the second game of the Rivalry Series in Moncton, New Brunswick. Frankel stopped 27 of 28 shots faced in the victory.
Ironbound Elite Hockey Director Sam Cheema is extremely excited about this significant addition to our group. “I’ve got to work closely with Aerin for the past year. There is not one day when it isn’t fun to come to the rink with Aerin there. She makes every person better and all the time (including us coaches). Aerin is a role model to future generations undoubtedly. Aerin was overlooked as a young player and has always used that as fuel for her motivation. Aerin’s compete-level is immeasurable – she never lets up a goal. And, if you do score – keep the puck. The girls in our program are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to work with Aerin.”
Aerin is concluding the 2020-21 season with the Northeastern Huskies in the NCAA playoffs – in their bid to win their first national title. Upon conclusion of the season, Aerin will be training and preparing for the opportunity to represent USA on the world stage once more. Aerin will be working closely with our goaltenders offering them guidance and advice throughout the season – whilst also supporting our on-ice goaltending program.”
Congratulations!
