CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — ECAC Hockey has named the 2024 Mandi Schwartz Scholar-Athlete of the Year, honoring Yale forward Elle Hartje for her excellence and leadership on the ice, in the classroom, and in the community.
The award is annually presented to an ECAC Hockey female student-athlete in honor of the late Mandi Schwartz, a Yale women’s hockey alum whose battle with cancer continues to inspire and empower the entire hockey community. Hartje is the sixth Bulldog to win the award, following Emma Seitz (2023), Lucy Burton (2020), Alyssa Zupon (2013), Aleca Hughes (2012), and Jackee Snikeris (2011).
On the ice, Hartje is a two-time All-ECAC First Team selection (2021-22, 2022-23) and was named captain of the 2023-24 Bulldogs squad. Yale's all-time leader for career assists (106 at time of release), Hartje also set the school record for single season assists with 39 and was named a CCM/AHCA Second Team All-American a year ago. In the international sector, Hartje was a member of the U.S. Women's Under-18 Select Team and was a member of Team USA at the 2022-23 USA Hockey National Festival.
As outstanding as she is on the ice, Hartje is also deserving of recognition for her efforts in the classroom and in the community, where she has worked just as hard and stood out just as brilliantly as she has during game play.
A three-time AHCA Scholar All-American and three-time ECAC All-Academic Team member, Hartje sports the highest GPA on Yale's roster. As a senior pursuing her bachelor’s degree in political scienece, Hartje has portrayed what head coach Mark Bolding describes as a “bright, fun, and caring teammate who balances her top end athletic skills with a sharp academic and scholarly focus."
Jay Judge, Yale Deputy Director of Athletics, External Relations, who serves as the women's hockey sport administrator, describes the senior captain by saying, "From the first day I met Elle I knew she was an amazing hockey player and person, but to then see that she is exceptional in the classroom was no surprise. Whether on the ice or in the classroom, Elle gives one hundred and ten percent every time."
At Yale, Hartje is involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as well as a volunteer/advocate for abused and neglected children in foster care through the Carnival for CASA. Additionally, in her local rink in Michigan, Hartje founded a youth program (Skate to be Great) where children can learn to skate and the program provides free equipment, ice time and coaching along with a mentorship component. Hartje has also volunteered at the Mandi Schwartz bone marrow drive, promoting the drive and spreading awareness of the drive and Mandi's story.
She will go down as one of the top players who have ever played for the Yale women’s hockey team,” said Yale head coach Mark Bolding of Hartje. "I have been so fortunate to have coached hundreds of student-athletes in my coaching career – but few can compare to the overall talent, hockey IQ and academic aptitude that Elle possesses; she is simply amazing on and off the ice."
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