2022 Top 25 Under 25 | 23 (tie): Maddie Rooney, Chloe Aurard

23 (tie) | Maddie Rooney | Goaltender | Team USA

Last season

Talking about a goaltender’s previous season can be tough—especially when a goaltender is part of a strong trio with only a few games played. Plus Rooney got hurt just before the 2021 World Championship in Calgary in August so she didn’t play that tournament.

In the one My Why/Rivalry Series games Rooney played in, she posted a shutout stopping all 26 shots she saw in Ottawa on Nov. 23, 2021.

In Beijing, she dressed for all but one of the games and was the only goaltender to start two preliminary games. She opened the tournament for the US in their first game against Finland stopping 10 of the 12 shots she saw in a mentally tough game for her team as Brianna Decker suffered a tournament-ending injury early in the game.

She also played in the US v Canada preliminary game and was tagged with four goals—including a three-goal second period by the Canadians. Obviously, you can’t pin an entire loss on the goaltender as Team USA looked less than stellar on the rest of the ice that game.

It was enough for the coaching staff though as Rooney didn’t see the ice for the rest of the tournament.

Major Accomplishments

• 2017 World Championship gold medal
• 2018 Olympic gold medal
• 2019 World Championship gold medal
• 2022 Olympic bronze medal/

What Comes Next

The UMD graduate will mostly likely head back to the PWHPA—where she was rostered in 2020-21 season with the Minnesota hub—for their rumored new league.

With Team USA, Rooney has been a constant on their goaltending trio since her “Secretary of Defense” performance in the 2018 Olympic gold medal game. But she hasn’t gotten consistent playing time, partially due to COVID, injury, and a strong trio for Team USA right now.

Too High or Too Low?

I think this might be just right for her after last season. She played okay in the Olympics and we didn’t see much else of her.

23 (tie) | Chloe Aurard | Forward | Northeastern | Team France

Last season

For Aurard, last season wrapped up only a few days ago as Team France hosted the Division I Group A World Championship in Angers. She was electric in the tournament, scoring a goal in all four of France’s game to lead her team—and the tournament—in goals scored (4) and total points (8). Her performance earned her Top Forward of the tournament honors.

At Northeastern, she had yet another stellar season, something that has come be the norm for her. She doesn’t exactly fly under the radar, but she does at the same time given the absolutely stacked lineup of Northeastern that includes Alina Muller, last season’s NCAA leading goal scorer Maureen Murphy, and Aerin Frankel. Aurard is a solid, strong, and reliable producer for the team—scoring 20 goals last season (second on the team behind Murphy) and was third in total points with 48.

It’s the type of numbers she’s put up her whole career as a Husky, and she’s a leading reason as to what makes them so dangerous—their depth.

Major Accomplishments

• 2014 U18 Division I World Championship silver medal
• 2015 U18 Division I World Championship gold medal
• 2015 World Championship Division I bronze medal
• 2016 World Championship Division I silver medal
• 2018 World Championship Division I gold medal
• 2022 World Championship Division I gold medal, top forward/

What Comes Next

Aurard will head back to Northeastern for a fifth season in the fall. After falling just short of the national championship two years in a row, you can bet Aurard (and the rest of the Huskies) will be chomping at the bit to win the whole thing. It’s too early to fully tell, but given how the French forward plays with her NCAA teammates, another championship run seems to be in the cards for her.

By winning Division I Group A, France was promoted to the top division of World Championships so they’ll compete in the 2023 World Championships. They last played there in 2019, and Aurard scored two goals and had one assist, the team leader in goals and points (3).

Look for her to climb the record books—both at Northeastern and with Team France where she’s been a mainstay since 2013. She currently sits at 9th in career points as a Husky and could easily jump to 5th by the end of the season. With her national team, she’s currently at 7th in goals scored and 9th in total points.

Too High or Too Low?

At once it feels both too low and also right, if that possible? I think one of the toughest parts of this is that we don’t know how Aurard stacks up against some of the tougher national team competition. But also she’s a dynamic player who is on a trajectory to be one of the best French women to play the game. So all of that is to say, I guess it’s just right or maybe a spot or two, too low. Time will tell.