Chloé Aurard Bio
Chloé Aurard-Bushee is a French professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Women’s League (PFWL). A left-shooting skater, she is also a longtime member of the French national team. Born on 15 March 1999 in Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France, she stands 1.68 m tall and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished French players of her generation.
After a distinguished collegiate career at Northeastern University, Aurard entered the professional ranks in 2023 when she was drafted by the New York Sirens of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). She has since represented France at multiple IIHF events, including the top division of the World Championship. She is also known publicly as Chloé Aurard-Bushee following her marriage.
Early Life and Background
Chloé Aurard was born on 15 March 1999 in Saint-Martin-d’Hères, a commune near Grenoble in southeastern France. She grew up in a family with a strong athletic orientation, and she has a brother as well as a twin sister named Anaïs, who also plays ice hockey. The two sisters developed their games together from a young age, sharpening one another’s skills in local rinks.
Her introduction to organized hockey came in the 2013–14 season, when Aurard joined a club in the France women’s ice hockey league. She was just 14 years old at the time, yet she finished second in league scoring with 17 goals and 24 points in 11 games, an early signal of her offensive instincts. Encouraged by her rapid development, the family supported her decision to pursue hockey at a higher level abroad.
After her initial club experience, Aurard moved to the United States to attend Vermont Academy, a prep school known for its competitive athletics. There she balanced hockey with soccer, softball, and tennis, rounding out her athletic foundation. In the 2017–18 season, Vermont won the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championship, and Aurard was named league MVP, confirming her status as one of the top young players in the country.
Path to Hockey
Aurard’s international career began early, with her first appearance at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships in 2014. The following year, at just 16 years old, she made her senior debut for France at the 2015 World Championship Division IA. By 2016, she was named captain of the French squad at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, illustrating how quickly she became a leader within the national program.
Her pre-college success earned her a path to NCAA Division I hockey. She enrolled at Northeastern University, joining one of the strongest women’s hockey programs in the United States. The combination of European club experience, U18 international play, and American prep-school hockey gave her a versatile background as she entered college.
At Northeastern, Aurard quickly established herself as a point-producing forward. Her debut season in 2018–19 produced 12 goals and 31 points in 35 games, capped by a Hockey East first-team all-star selection and a conference championship. Those numbers laid the foundation for what would become one of the most decorated individual careers in Huskies history.
Chloé Aurard Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Aurard opened her Northeastern career in explosive fashion, registering her first collegiate point on 5 October 2018 with a shorthanded goal in a 5–0 victory over Boston University. She finished her freshman year with 12 goals and 31 points in 35 games, earning Hockey East first-team all-star honors. She and the Huskies also won the Hockey East championship, an early taste of team success she would revisit throughout her career.
Her sophomore year brought further growth, with 21 goals and 49 points in 38 games, including a five-point outing against the College of the Holy Cross on 29 November 2019. She was again a Hockey East first-team all-star and was named to the conference’s all-tournament team as Northeastern captured another league title. The 2020–21 season saw her lead the NCAA in game-winning goals (six) and shorthanded goals (three), helping Northeastern to a fourth consecutive Hockey East championship and her third personal conference title.
Northeastern Senior Years (2021–2023)
In her senior year of 2021–22, Aurard recorded 20 goals and 42 points, along with her fourth career hat-trick. She was again named to the conference all-tournament team as Northeastern won another Hockey East title. She was also placed on the second all-conference team, her fourth all-star selection in as many seasons, underlining her consistency.
Returning for her final year of NCAA eligibility, Aurard posted a career-best 54 points in 38 games, finishing eighth nationally in scoring. She was named to the second all-conference team and won the Hockey East championship for the fifth and final time. She exited Northeastern ranked fourth in team history in points (204) and goals (89), and third in assists (115).
Professional Career and ZSC Lions Era (2023–Present)
Aurard signed with the Boston Pride of the Premier Hockey Federation on 12 May 2023, but never played for the club after the league was dissolved and replaced by the PWHL. On 18 September 2023, she was selected 21st overall in the fourth round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by New York, becoming the first French player affiliated with a PWHL team. She signed a two-year contract with the Sirens on 13 November 2023.
In New York’s inaugural PWHL game, a 4–0 win over Toronto, Aurard recorded two assists. She scored her first PWHL goal on 28 February 2024 against Ottawa, becoming the first French player to score in the league, and finished the season with one goal and eight points. Her second season with the Sirens in 2024–25 was more limited, as she averaged 7:24 of ice time and recorded four points in 27 games. On 18 June 2025, she signed a one-year deal with the Boston Fleet, but was released following training camp. On 28 November 2025, the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Women’s League announced the signing of Aurard to a contract effective 1 January 2026 through the end of the season.
Playing Style and Strengths
Aurard is an offensively gifted forward whose speed, shot, and playmaking ability have been her trademarks throughout her career. She has shown particular strength in shorthanded situations, leading the NCAA in shorthanded goals during the 2020–21 season. Her versatility allows her to play in multiple roles, and she has produced hat-tricks at the collegiate level across four separate seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her defining moments, Aurard became the first French player affiliated with a PWHL team in 2023 and the first French player to score a PWHL goal in February 2024. She captained France at the 2016 U18 Worlds and represented her country in the IIHF top division in 2019 and 2023. Her career-long run of Hockey East titles with Northeastern, five in total, stands as a defining team achievement.
Chloé Aurard Career Wins
Aurard’s competitive résumé includes a long list of league championships and individual awards. She won the Hockey East championship in every season of her Northeastern career, five in total. She was a multiple-time Hockey East all-star and was named league MVP during her prep year at Vermont Academy.
Northeastern and Prep Highlights
Aurard’s first championship came at Vermont Academy with the 2017–18 NEPSAC title, where she was named league MVP. At Northeastern, she was part of Hockey East championship rosters in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, capping her time with five consecutive conference titles. She also earned four all-conference selections and two all-tournament nods across her five seasons.
Other Performances
Internationally, Aurard represented France at the 2014 and 2016 IIHF U18 World Championships and at multiple senior World Championships. France finished third at the 2024 World Championship Division IA, narrowly missing promotion after a 2–1 loss to Hungary on the final day. At club level, she joined the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Women’s League in early 2026 after stints with the New York Sirens and Boston Fleet.
Chloé Aurard Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Aurard grew up in Saint-Martin-d’Hères alongside her brother and her twin sister, Anaïs, who is also an ice hockey player. The twins pushed each other competitively from a young age, which helped shape Aurard’s early development. Hockey runs strongly in the family, with both sisters eventually playing at high levels in Europe and North America.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Aurard earned a bachelor’s degree in media, art, and communication from Northeastern University. On 9 June 2024, she announced her engagement to her girlfriend, Ella Bushee, and the two were married in October 2025. Both took the hyphenated last name Aurard-Bushee, and she is publicly known by that combined surname.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 PWHL campaign was a challenging one for Aurard with the New York Sirens, as she averaged just 7:24 of ice time and finished with four points in 27 games. Despite her limited role, she remained a respected presence in the locker room, and on 18 June 2025, she signed a one-year contract with the Boston Fleet. Her time with the Fleet proved brief, as she was released following training camp ahead of the 2025–26 season.
On 28 November 2025, the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Women’s League announced the signing of Aurard to a contract effective 1 January 2026 through the end of the season. The move offered her a fresh opportunity to play a top-six role and showcase her offensive skills in a new league. Her transition to Swiss hockey also keeps the door open for continued selection to the French national team.
Looking ahead through 2025 and into 2026, Aurard’s outlook centers on establishing herself as a key contributor for the ZSC Lions and pushing France toward promotion in upcoming IIHF events. Her combination of scoring touch, leadership, and international experience positions her well for a strong rebound season in Switzerland.