By: Kelsea Durham | Follow me on Twitter/X @kelseadurham
Hannah Brandt’s retirement is one that the Boston Fleet organization and fans have prepared for throughout the season. What had been announced early in the regular season finally settled with the fans and the league late April, just before the postseason began. Brandt made the announcement on social media in November.
Brandt has been with the Boston Fleet since the league’s inaugural season in 2024 after being selected in the fifth round of the 2023 PWHL Draft. Before joining the PWHL, she spent part of her professional career with the Minnesota Whitecaps in the PWHPA. She was a member of the Whitecaps team that won the Isobel Cup during the 2018–19 season.
On the international stage, Brandt represented Team USA at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, earning a gold medal in 2018 and a silver medal in 2022. She also captured three gold medals and two silver medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
A Minnesota native, Brandt played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, where she built one of the most accomplished collegiate careers in program history. During her senior season, she was named a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award for the fourth consecutive year. As a junior, she led the WCHA in scoring and ranked second in the NCAA with 74 points. During her sophomore season, she again led the conference in scoring and ranked first in the nation with 42 assists. As a freshman, she set a program record with 82 points.
One of the Fleet’s most respected veterans, Brandt appeared in all 84 regular-season games since the league’s inaugural season. She is retiring from professional hockey to return to school and complete her Physician Assistant program. After balancing professional hockey and school, Brandt now turns the page to the next chapter of her career while leaving behind a lasting legacy in women’s hockey.
Beyond her on-ice stats and accomplishments, Brandt became an important part of the Boston Fleet culture. As one of the more experienced players on the roster, she brought leadership and consistency to a team navigating the early years of a new professional league.
Throughout her career, Brandt balanced hockey with her other commitments off the rink. Her initial plan was to retire after one season to pursue her degree, but she gave the sport two more years and is now stepping back to finish her degree. Her story highlights the reality that many women’s hockey players face: the need to balance their careers with education.
Her retirement represents more than the loss of a veteran forward for the Fleet. It marks the end of a chapter for one of the players who helped establish the foundation of professional women’s hockey during a period of major growth for the game. From her collegiate success at Minnesota to the international stage with Team USA and her time in Boston, Brandt leaves behind a career defined by consistency, leadership, and commitment to the sport.
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