Oh captain, my captain: Northeastern’s Lily Shannon is top dog in the pound this season, and looking to bring the fight to the national stage.
With the official end to the life of the historic Matthews Arena this past weekend, we thought it was fitting to spotlight a local athlete who called the landmark home. Lily Shannon is captain of the Northeastern women’s ice hockey team. She is a forward from Andover, Massachusetts.
Shannon has steadily built an impressive collegiate career with the Huskies’ program, evolving from a promising freshman into one of the team’s most impactful offensive players and a team leader. Shannon has been known throughout her career for her scoring touch, consistency and ability to deliver in key moments, becoming a central figure in Northeastern’s lineup.
Shannon made an immediate impact during her freshman season in 2022-23, appearing in 38 games and leading all Northeastern rookies with 15 points on six goals and nine assists. According to her coaches, she was originally going to be a redshirt, but when they saw a glimpse of what Shannon could do, they changed their minds. She showcased her offensive instincts early, recording her first collegiate point in the opening weekend of the season and scoring her first career goal shortly after. Her strong two-way play was reflected in a +14 plus/minus rating, and she capped her first season with a goal in the NCAA Quarterfinals against Yale, signaling her ability to rise to the occasion on the national stage.
In her sophomore year, Shannon continued to provide steady production, once again totaling 15 points with six goals and nine assists across 39 games. She delivered some of the most productive outings of her collegiate career, including a career-high three-point performance against New Hampshire and a two-goal effort in the Hockey East Semifinals. While maintaining her role as a reliable middle-six forward, Shannon further solidified herself as a dependable scoring option in both conference and postseason play.
Last year marked a breakout year for Shannon. She yielded career highs in goals (16), points (24), and shots (111) while skating in 37 games. Her offensive surge included four game-winning goals, underscoring her growing reputation as a clutch performer. Shannon played a key role throughout Hockey East play and the postseason, contributing timely goals and helping power Northeastern during its Beanpot title run, which she assisted in getting their third straight win.
Entering her senior season in 2025–26, Shannon elevated her game to another level while taking on a leadership role as team captain. As captain, Shannon has led her team to show that they can get over any hurdle that comes their way, on and off the ice. This mindset is very personal to her, as she has faced adversities in her life, which she has been vocal about and an advocate for, showing that being different is not always a setback; it just means you work harder. She was born with hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since childhood. Shannon has been vocal about how her hearing loss has been a motivator for how she wants her team to lead on and off the ice.
“It motivates me to show everyone that I can do whatever I want,” Shannon told the Boston Globe. “Hopefully, younger kids look at me, who may have hearing loss, and see that what I’m doing, they can do, too.” Shannon was voted unanimously to be captain by her teammates, and it reflects who she is as a person.
As for playing this season, she has led the Huskies offensively with 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 14 games, ranking among the top scorers in Hockey East. She has recorded several multi-point performances, earned conference Player of the Week honors and consistently delivered game-changing plays, serving as the engine of Northeastern’s attack. As of now, the Huskies are having a spectacular season under her leadership, ranked 7th in the nation and 1st in Hockey East. With Shannon taking the lead, the team could have a solid shot at their seventh Hockey East Championship title.