Principal athletic facilities include Matthews Arena, the world's oldest indoor ice hockey arena (capacity: 4,666 for hockey, 5,250 for basketball), Parsons Field (3,000 for baseball), Cabot Center (1,800 for basketball and volleyball), Barletta Natatorium (500), the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center (3,500) and the Henderson Boathouse.

The men's ice hockey program has existed since 1929 and played as an independent NCAA Division I team until joining the ECAC in 1961.

Northeastern players who have gone on to significant professional hockey careers have included David Poile '71, long time general manager of the NHL Washington Capitals and current general manager of the NHL Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues goaltender and two-time All-American Bruce Racine '88, NHL defenseman Dan McGillis, Montreal Canadiens winger Chris Nilan, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman and Hobey Baker Award finalist Jim Fahey '02.

Joe Vitale '09 is a retired forward for the Arizona Coyotes and Cleveland Monsters goalie and Hobey Baker Award finalist Brad Thiessen '09.

Zach Aston-Reese '17 was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2017 and currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The program's best record was in 1988, when the undefeated squad finished 26-0-1, winning its first of three ECAC titles (the others coming in 1989 and 1997), at the time the effective national women's college championship.

Northeastern has also been the ECAC finalist seven times, as well as winning fourteen women's Beanpot tournaments, including eight straight between 1984 and 1991.

Among notable players for Northeastern have been Sunohara; goaltender Kelly Dyer, the second woman to play professional ice hockey in North America; United States national team goaltender Chanda Gunn, ten-time United States national team member and Olympic gold medalist Shelley Looney, 2002 collegiate women's player of the year Brooke Whitney and multiple Olympic medalist Laura Schuler, Swiss national team goaltender and 2012 First-Team All-American Florence Schelling, and Patty Kazmaier Award winner and Olympian Kendall Coyne.

In addition, the following Huskies have played on the United States national team: Tina Cardinale, Jeanine Sobek, Brooke White-Lancette, Kim Haman, Hillary Witt and Erika Silva.

Northeastern is currently a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, having moved to the CAA in 2005 after many years in the America East Conference.

Among notable players for Northeastern have been Boston Celtics captain and All-Star Reggie Lewis, Golden State Warriors guard Perry Moss, Olympian Dave Caligaris, All-American Pete Harris, Dallas Mavericks guard & NBA Champion José Juan Barea, one of the NCAA's assist leaders & Providence Associate Head Coach[2] Andre LaFleur, and Baskonia guard Matt Janning.

[4] The Northeastern University Baseball team currently competes in the Coastal Athletic Association and is coached by Mike Glavine.

The Northeastern Men's Soccer team began at the university as a varsity sport in 1984 under the direction of Winston Smith.

The team joined the Colonial Athletic Association in 2005 and won the conference championship in 2008 before advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament that same year.

[9] The Northeastern Men's Rowing team has a long history at the university, debuting in the 1960s and making a number of appearances at the Eastern Sprints[10] and National IRA Regatta.

The team is currently led by Tramaine Shaw who serves as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.

[21] The Board of Trustees voted on November 20, 2009, to end the football program, citing sparse attendance, numerous losing seasons, and the expense to renovate Parsons Field stadium to an acceptable standard.

[29] The Huskies competed at the 2014 Collegiate Rugby Championship,[30] a tournament broadcast live on NBC from PPL Park in Philadelphia.

The Northeastern men's and women’s wrestling team, founded in 2002, competes in the Northeast division of the NCWA.