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ERIN FRANKEL is used to pressure. Prior to joining the Northeastern University Huskies hockey team in 2017, the Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., native backstopped Shattuck- St. Mary's to three straight USA Hockey National Championships. So finding herself between the pipes as her Huskies headed into overtime of the NCAA Women's Frozen Four final game against the University of Wisconsin was no big deal. Several days later Frankel found herself dealing with a different kind of nerves as she sat alone in her hotel room bed in Blaine, Minn., the site of the U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp, waiting for the announcement of the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. For the second time in a week, one of Frankel's main adversaries was Wisconsin senior forward Darryl Watts, who was look- ing to become only the second two-time winner of the award. And several doors down in the hotel sat Grace Zumwinkle, a senior forward from the University of Minnesota who was also vying for a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team roster. "It's such an honor to be in the conversa- tion for the award," Frankel said prior to the announcement naming her the top women's player in college hockey. "Patty Kazmaier was obviously such a trailblazer and encompasses so many values that every women's hockey player can only hope to encompass. Just being in the con- versation is such an honor." More than just being in the conversation, Frankel was the talk of college hockey this year. After rebounding from the disappoint- ment of the Covid-impacted 2019-20 sea- son, Frankel stepped up her game in leading the team to a 22-2-1 record and a nation- al runner-up finish. She led the nation in nearly every statistical category, including goals against average (0.81), save percentage (.965), goalie winning percentage (.891) and shutouts (9). Shortly after surrendering a bad-bounce goal in overtime of the NCAA title game, Frankel packed her hockey bag and head- ed to Blaine, where she earned a spot in the goalie rotation with the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship. With another year of college eligibility left, Frankel will see how things shake out with her quest to punch her ticket to the 2022 Olympics. If not, she plans on return- ing to Northeastern to take care of some unfinished business. "There have been so many amazing play- ers that have come before me, and to have my name on a list alongside them is very humbling and makes me very proud," said Frankel, who becomes only the fourth goal- tender to win the award. "To represent our university and to get another goalie's name on that list is pretty cool, too. All the recipients of this award are part of a very special group, and I'm really excited to join them." P 12 // APRIL 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM O F F T HE D R AW A k Frankel is the second player from Northeastern University (Kendall Coyne Schofield) to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. THE KAZMAIER KLUB Northeastern Goalie Thrives In Pandemic Bounce Back Year COLLEGE By Harry Thompson TOP DOG Aerin Frankel 2 6 Harvard University 5 University of Wisconsin 3 Clarkson University 2 Boston College University of Minnesota Northeastern University 4 k Aerin Frankel is only the fourth goaltender (joining Ali Brewer in 2000, Jessie Vetter in 2009 and Ann- Renee Desbiens in 2017). k Schools with the most Patty Kazmaier Award winners: PHOTOS COURTESY OF Northeastern University