DANBURY, CONN. — ECAC Hockey has named the 2026 Mandi Schwartz Scholar-Athlete of the Year, honoring Princeton forward Issy Wunder for her excellence and leadership on the ice, in the classroom, and in the community.
The award is presented annually to an ECAC Hockey female student-athlete in honor of the late Mandi Schwartz, a Yale women’s hockey alumna whose battle with cancer continues to inspire and empower the entire hockey community. Wunder is the first Princeton women's student-athlete to win this award in the program's history.
Wunder, a senior at Princeton, has been a standout both on and off the ice. Over four years, Issy has played in 116 games, scoring 63 goals (8 PPG and 12 GWG) and tallying 73 assists. During her junior year, she was one of the top ten finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, earning ECAC Hockey Forward of the Year, First Team All-ECAC, and Third Team All-USCHO honors.
In the classroom, Wunder is a psychology major with a minor in neuroscience. She maintains a 3.917 GPA, which is among the top 10 of all student-athletes at Princeton while leading her team as captain. She is a two-time ACHA All-American Scholar (2024, 2025), a member of the 2025 ECAC Commissioner’s List, and a three-time ECAC All-Academic Team selection (2023–2025), recognized for her excellence in the classroom, community, and on the ice.
Beyond her academic and athletic achievements, Wunder is committed to community service and engagement. She served as the 2024-25 Lead Ambassador for the Let Her Play organization, promoting girls in sports and mentors young female hockey players from middle school through the NCAA recruiting process as Canadians. She serves as a volunteer for Reading for the Tigers and Coaching Barbies at Baker.
“Her passion for growing the game and empowering the next generation of athletes speaks volumes about her character and values,” says Princeton Head Coach Courtney Kessel. “Having a leader like Issy on a team is truly special. She is someone teammates trust, respect, and look to for guidance. She elevates every environment she is part of and embodies integrity, accountability, and compassion in all that she does.”
With an impressive GPA and an outstanding career on the ice as well as her impact in her community, Issy Wunder embodies the spirit of the Mandi Schwartz Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. ECAC Hockey celebrates Wunder’s incredible journey and achievements throughout her collegiate experience on the ice, in the classroom, and in the community.
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