The Boston Fleet dominated the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Awards ceremony held Tuesday in Detroit, securing five major honors that highlighted the team’s standout 2025-26 season. Leading the accolades was goaltender Aerin Frankel, who captured both the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and Goaltender of the Year, making history as the first goalie to claim the Billie Jean King MVP Award since the league’s inception three years ago.
Frankel, 27, a Northeastern alumna widely regarded as one of the world’s premier goaltenders, posted a record-setting season for the Fleet. She tied the league lead with 19 wins, including 14 in regulation, and set new marks with eight shutouts and a 226:09 consecutive shutout streak. Across 18 starts, Frankel limited opponents to one or fewer goals, finishing the regular season with a 1.17 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage—both career bests. The Fleet’s defense, anchored by Frankel, conceded only 45 goals, marking the second-fewest in the league’s history. Frankel outpaced fellow finalists Ann-Renée Desbiens of Montreal and Gwyneth Philips of Ottawa for Goaltender of the Year, and edged out Desbiens and Minnesota forward Kelly Pannek for the MVP honor.
Fleet captain Megan Keller was named Defender of the Year, the only major individual recognition that eluded rookie Haley Winn, who claimed Rookie of the Year for her impressive debut campaign. Keller, 30, led all defenders with 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists), matching a league record for points by a blue liner and ranking among league leaders in goals, assists, and ice time—averaging 26:39 per game. Widely praised for her leadership, Keller wore the captain’s “C” for the first time this season, playing a pivotal role in cultivating the team’s culture and success.
Winn, selected second overall in last year’s PWHL Draft, joined forward Abby Newhook on the All-Rookie team and earned a spot on the Second-team All-Star roster. Keller and Frankel were named First-team All-Stars.
Kris Sparre, who coached the Fleet through a breakthrough season before moving to the newly formed Hamilton expansion team, was honored as Coach of the Year. Under Sparre’s guidance, Boston improved by 18 points from the previous season and reduced goals allowed by 31, demonstrating significant progress defensively and overall.
In a related move announced ahead of Wednesday’s PWHL Draft, the Fleet reacquired forward Ella Huber from Detroit in a trade that sent Boston’s second- and third-round draft picks to the Detroit team in exchange for Huber and Detroit’s third-round pick. Huber, 24, a University of Minnesota product and 2025 PWHL rookie, appeared in all 30 regular-season games last season with Boston, contributing four goals and two assists.
Overall, Boston’s haul at the awards underscores the team’s rising prominence in the league and reinforces the impact of key players and staff in establishing the Fleet as a top contender in the PWHL.