DANBURY, Conn. – Junior Maddie Leaney of the Union College Women's Hockey team has been named ECAC Hockey Forward of the Week, presented by Bluebird Hotels, announced by the conference on Tuesday morning.

Leaney delivered an outstanding weekend, netting four goals, highlighted by a hat trick that included the overtime game-winner in Union's 4–3 upset victory over #4/5 Cornell University on Friday evening— marking the first win over a top-five ranked opponent in program history.

The hat trick is the second of Leaney's career, having previously recorded one as a first-year on October 7, 2023, against the College of the Holy Cross. With her three-goal performance, she became the first player in Union's Division I era to register multiple hat tricks. Leaney's overtime winner brought her career total to seven game-winning goals, tying her for first in program history.

The victory also marked the second consecutive season in which Union has upset Cornell, having defeated the eventual 2025 ECAC Hockey champions at Lynah Rink on November 1, 2024, in a 3–2 decision—Union's first-ever win at Cornell's historic rink. The Big Red were ranked #9 at the time and went on to finish the season ranked third nationally.

Leaney added another goal in Saturday afternoon's 3-2 overtime loss to #13/12 Colgate University, bringing her weekend total to four points and moving her into second place all-time in career points at Union with 58.

The recognition marks Leaney's second Forward of the Week honor this month, previously earning the honor on Tuesday, November 11, after a recording a four-point weekend against cross town rival Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She tallied Union's lone goal in a 2–1 overtime loss on Friday, November 7, against the Engineers, then erupted for two goals and an assist in Saturday's 7–4 victory—factoring in a goal and an assist into Union's five-goal first period and striking again in the third period on November 8.

Leaney also earned ECAC recognitions earlier in her career, earning ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, following her hat trick against Holy Cross on October 7. She was also tabbed ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month for the end of September and full month of October 2023 after recording five goals and three assists for eight points during the stretch. 

Leaney has totaled 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points through 88 career games, including 10 goals and five assists so far this season.