Chloé Aurard Explained

Chloé Aurard
Birth Date:15 March 1999
Birth Place:Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
Height M:1.68
Weight Kg:65
Position:Forward
Shoots:Left
League:PWHL
Team:New York
Sex:f
Ntl Team:FRA
Career Start:2023

Chloé Aurard (born 15 March 1999) is a French professional ice hockey forward for New York of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), and the French national team.

Playing career

Pre-college career

In the 2013–14 season, Aurard played in the France women's ice hockey league, the top level of women's ice hockey in the country. In a season that began when she was just 14 years old, she ranked second in league scoring with 17 goals and 24 points in 11 games.[1]

Aurard attended Vermont Academy, where in addition to hockey she played soccer, softball, and tennis. In the 2017–18 season, Vermont won the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championship and Aurard was named league MVP.

Collegiate career

Aurard made her debut for Northeasten University in the 2018–19 season. Her first career point came on 5 October 2018, scoring a shorthanded goal in a 5–0 victory over Boston University. She would go on to record 12 goals and 31 points in 35 games, earning Hockey East first-team all-star honors. She and Northeastern won the Hockey East championship.[2]

Aurard's sophomore season saw her scoring increase to 21 goals and 49 points in 38 games, including a five-point outing against College of the Holy Cross on 29 November 2019, one of an NCAA-leading two hat-tricks. She was named a first-team Hockey East all-star for the second time, and was named to the conference's all-tournament team as she and the Huskies again won the Hockey East championship.

The 2020–21 season saw Aurard lead the NCAA in game-winning goals and shorthanded goals, with six and three, respectively. She recorded her third career hat-trick in February 2021, and finished in the top 10 in goal scoring, with 15. Northeastern won their fourth consecutive Hockey East title, Aurard's third, and she was named to the first all-conference team for the third time in three years.

In her senior year, the 2021–22 season, Aurard recorded 20 goals and 42 points, as well as her fourth career hat-trick. She was named to the conference all-tournament team for the second time as the Huskies once again won the Hockey East conference, and was named to the second all-conference team, her fourth all-star team nod in as many years.

Returning for her final year of NCAA eligibility, Aurard finished eighth in the country with a career-best 54 points in 38 games as Northeastern clinched yet another Hockey East title. She was named to the second all-conference team, achieving all-Hockey East honors and winning the conference in every year of her collegiate career. She finished her time with the Huskies fourth in team all-time points (204) and goals (89), and third in assists (115). 

Professional career

Aurard signed with the Boston Pride of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) on 12 May 2023, shortly after the team signed fellow Northeastern alumnus Alina Müller.[3] They would never play for the club, as the PHF would be bought out and dissolved to make way for the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).[4]

On 18 September 2023, Aurard was selected 21st overall in the 4th round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by New York, becoming the first French player to be affiliated with a PWHL team.[5] [6] She signed a two-year contract with the club on 13 November 2023.[7] [8] In the team's inaugural outing, a 4–0 victory over Toronto, she recorded two assists.[9] [10] She scored her first PWHL goal on 28 February 2024, in a 4–2 loss to Ottawa, becoming the first player from France to score a goal in the league.[11] She would finish the season with one goal and eight points.[12]

International play

Aurard made her first appearance at the IIHF World Women's U18 Championships in 2014.[13]

At 16 years old, Aurard made her international senior debut, representing France at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship Division IA.

Aurard was named captain of the French squad at the 2016 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship.

The French team, featuring Aurard, appeared in the IIHF's top division in 2019 and 2023, but finished last and were relegated at both events.[14]

Personal life

Aurard has a brother and a twin sister, Anais, who also plays hockey.[15] She has a bachelor's degree in media, art, and communication.

On 9 June 2024, Aurard announced her engagement to her girlfriend, Ella Bushee.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2013–14GapFrance1117724820110
2016–17Ours de Villard-de-LansFRA U17 (Men's)20004
2018–19Northeastern UniversityHE3512193118
2019–20Northeastern UniversityHE3821284918
2020–21Northeastern UniversityHE2516122812
2021–22Northeastern UniversityHE3120224222
2022–23Northeastern UniversityHE3820345414
2023–24New YorkPWHL21 1 7 8 2
PWHL totals21 1 7 8 2

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2014FranceU18 (Div I)5 5 0 5 2
2015FranceU18 (Div I)53580
2015FranceWC (Div IA)51122
2016FranceU18 (Div I)8th511212
2016FranceWC (Div IA)51452
2017FranceWC (Div IA)6th50000
2018FranceWC (Div IA)541512
2019FranceWC10th52132
2022FranceWC (Div IA)44480
2023FranceWC10th40114
2024FranceWC (Div IA)5 1 6 7 0
Junior totals15 9 6 15 14
Senior totals38 13 17 31 22

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
NCAA
NEHWA Division I All-Star2020, 2023
Second Team AHCA All-American2021
Second Team All-USCHO2021
Hockey East
First Team All-Star2019, 2020, 2021
Beanpot MVP2020
All-Rookie Team2020
All-Tournament Team2020, 2022
All-Academic Team2021, 2022, 2023
Second Team All-Star2022, 2023
International
World Championship (Div IA) – Best Forward2022[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Elite Prospects - France (W) Stats 2013-2014 . 2023-09-19 . www.eliteprospects.com . en . 13 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113211945/https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/france-w/stats/2013-2014 . live .
  2. Web site: Chloé Aurard . nuhuskies.com . Northeastern University Huskies . 14 March 2024.
  3. Web site: Kennedy . Ian . NCAA Star Chloe Aurard Signs With PHF's Boston Pride . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News . 14 March 2024 . 12 May 2023.
  4. Web site: Chloé Aurard à New York, c’est signé . ledauphine.com . . 14 March 2024 . fr . 15 November 2023.
  5. Web site: PWHL Draft Tracker: Round-by-round recap of all 90 selections . 2023-09-19 . Sportsnet.ca . en . 13 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113211950/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/pwhl-draft-tracker-follow-every-pick/ . live .
  6. Web site: Rioux . Benoît . Une pionnière pour le hockey en France . journaldemontreal.com . Le Journal de montreal . 14 March 2024 . 19 February 2024 . fr.
  7. 1724171346802839982. PWHL_NewYork. Bonjour Chloé! We are so proud to sign French National Team member Chloé Aurard to a two-year deal!. 2023-11-13. 2023-11-13.
  8. Web site: Kennedy . Ian . New York Signs French Star Chloe Aurard . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News . 14 March 2024 . 13 November 2023.
  9. Web site: Débuts réussis pour Chloé Aurard et New York en PWHL . lequipe.fr . L'Équipe . 14 March 2024 . 2 January 2024 . fr.
  10. Web site: Hockey-sur-glace : la Française Chloé Aurard dans l’histoire de la PWHL, la ligue pro nord-américaine . radiofrance.fr . Radio France . 14 March 2024 . 16 January 2024 . fr.
  11. Web site: Game Recap: Hughes scores late game winner, Ottawa defeats New York . thepwhl.com . Professional Women's Hockey League . 29 February 2024 . 28 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Pas de play-offs pour New York et Chloé Aurard en PWHL . lequipe.fr . 14 May 2024 . fr . 6 May 2024.
  13. Web site: Montroy . Liz . France’s strong mental game . iihf.com . International Ice Hockey Federation . 14 March 2024 . April 25, 2022.
  14. Web site: Podnieks . Andrew . Two Chloes, one game . iihf.com . International Ice Hockey Federation . 14 March 2024 . 26 September 2023.
  15. Web site: Le Pezennec . Pierrick . Chloé Aurard : « Je vis un rêve éveillé » . ledauphine.com . . 14 March 2024 . 9 May 2022 . fr.
  16. C8ATtFlAN7o . chloe_aurard . Just a little life update… . 9 June 2024 . Chloé . Aurard . 9 June 2024 . dmy-all.
  17. Web site: Best Players Selected by the Directorate. IIHF. 28 May 2024.