Tia Chan: Captain, Champion, Olympian

Storrs, Connecticut has long been home to exceptional athletes across many sports. In the world of ice hockey, there is a name that stands out - Tia Chan. 

Since arriving at UConn in the fall of 2020, Chan has been steadily crafting one of the most remarkable careers in program history. Her journey began under the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted her freshman season. Despite obstacles, she quickly made her mark, earning a spot on the Pro Ambitions Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

After her breakout year, Chan took a bold step– pausing her collegiate career to train in Russia for a year with the hopes of representing China on the international stage at the 2022 Beijing Olympics as a heritage player. 

Upon her return to Storrs, Chan elevated both her game and her program. As a junior, she backstopped the Huskies to their first-ever Hockey East championship, delivering a heroic performance with a career-high 48 saves in UConn’s NCAA Tournament debut. Her dominant season earned her a slew of honors, including Academic All-American, New England All-Star, and a spot on the Women’s Goalie of the Year Watch List. 

With over a year left in her collegiate career, Chan has already cemented her legacy as a transformative player for UConn. And she’s not done yet.

Chan’s hockey journey is a tale of persistence, growth, and opportunity, one that starts during her early days as a street hockey goalie at age four.

“I have two older brothers who both played hockey, they were really the main reason why I started,” the Hamilton, Ontario native explains. “I always wanted to be like them, do whatever they were doing.”

“They would always throw me in net for street hockey because I was the youngest,” she recalls with a laugh. “Because I wanted to play with them, I did what they said and went in net.”

Though her on-ice career began in house league, splitting time between playing as a skater and a goalie, Chan quickly found her calling between the pipes. She remembers a unique start to her goaltending days: “I’m full right now, meaning my glove is on the right side, which is pretty abnormal. When I started, I was left because that’s what the league provided. Once I got my own gear, I switched to what felt more natural.”

Chan quickly progressed through the levels, often surpassing her age groups seeking competition that matched her abilities.

“People saw potential in me, and that gave me confidence to keep going.”

When the time came to look at college selections, Chan knew that UConn was the right place for her. 

“As soon as I stepped on campus, I had this feeling—it’s cliché, but I knew it was the place I wanted to be. It was about the people, the potential, and all the opportunities here.”

Chan's decision to join UConn was driven by more than just a gut feeling. She had the trust that the program would challenge her to grow. That belief has been validated during her time with the Huskies, most notably during last season’s historic run. 

“We won the regular season last year, which [UConn had] never done before. It’s just an indicator that the things I thought were true, that we’re a program up and coming.” 

Chan’s belief in UConn’s potential has been shaped by the people around her, both on and off the ice. A big part of her development as a player has been working with Associate Head Coach Casey Handrahan, whose approach to training has challenged her to see the game in a completely new way. 

“As a non-goalie training goalies, he really [shows] us how to see the game,” Chan explained. “The normal goalie coach works on skills - post integrations, what you should do in certain situations - but Casey sees the game from a different perspective. What does a player see when they’re shooting on you? How can we have you better prepared to play teams with different styles of play?” 

For Chan, this mindset has been transformative, helping her not just read plays but anticipate what’s coming next. That preparation paid off during last year’s unforgettable playoff run, a stretch of games that tested UConn’s resilience and composure under pressure. 

“Playoffs is a different game. It’s not hard to find the adrenaline, it’s not hard to find the nerves,” Chan said. “To me, that makes you a better player. You need a little adrenaline, you need a little nerves to make you better.” 

Those high-stakes moments brought out the best in her team, which she explains remained calm and confident no matter the situation. 

“We’re very good in close games. We don’t steer from our game plan,” she said, reflecting on UConn’s victory over Northeastern in the Hockey East Championship game, a 1-0 win in overtime on home ice.

“It was a 0-0 game that entire game until we scored that final goal, but everyone was on board the whole time. We went into some very long games [and] we got better as they went on.”

For Chan, the win wasn’t just about making history, but also about honoring those that came before her.

“I couldn’t help but think of the people that came before me,” she said, naming players like the Svetek sisters, the Foxes, the Snodgrasses, and the Wabicks . “I have a lot of [gratitude for] them because it started with them. The program would never have been where it is without them.”

“We were the first people on the roster to win, but I really want them to know it started with them.” 

After the final buzzer, Chan and her teammates celebrated together, but their joy extended to the wider UConn family, including several alumni who were in attendance for the historic win.

“We celebrated with ourselves first, but then we enjoyed the moment with all the people who support us every day;at the rink, at home. We see the men’s team at the rink every day, and they’re always rooting for us. Same with family and friends,they’re always on our side.”

Chan’s personal athletic achievements could rival those of the UConn program. She made the difficult decision to leave the Huskies for a year to train overseas with the hopes she may be asked to represent China at the Olympics.

“Like any Olympic opportunity, it’s never guaranteed. We could have gone out to train for a year and never had the opportunity to play,” she explains, noting that Team China competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics for the first time since 2010 as the host nation.

The choice wasn’t easy, but it was life-changing. “Making the decision to take the year off was huge. I relied on my coaches, family, and friends to decide if it was worth it. They pushed me to pursue it, and I’m so glad I did. Playing in the Olympics is the dream of any athlete.”

The journey to Beijing was grueling. The team trained in Russia and Chan described it as a challenging environment. “We made a huge sacrifice to go live in Russia and play in that league. We were away from friends and family, we were very isolated. It was during COVID still, you’re in a foreign country, and not everyone we were with spoke English.”

Chan’s experience with Team China gave her a new perspective on the game she’s been playing since she was a child. While stepping onto the ice for the Olympics was “surreal,” the journey leading up to that moment taught her the true meaning of hard work. 

“I’ve played with some incredible players in the past, but playing with Team China really showed me professionalism and what 24/7 hard work is. They were dedicated to the max, and I took a lot away from that.” 

That dedication left a lasting impression and opened Chan’s eyes to the global potential of hockey.

“A lot of people say that North American hockey is the best, and don’t get me wrong,I do agree with that,but there are countries that are [not] far off. They just need a little more depth. They have the top-end talent, but they just need a little more to be really good too,” she said. 

Watching the game grow in China, in particular, was inspiring. 

“Ten years ago, they had fewer than 100 rinks, and now there are thousands across the country. [That experience] showed me the potential of women’s hockey around the globe.”

For Chan, that growth isn’t just about individual programs, but about the future of the sport. 

“I’m not sure when it’s going to happen, but eventually it’s not going to be an automatic Canada-U.S. gold medal game every year,” she said. “That’ll make the game so much more exciting and bring a wider audience to hockey too.” 

Through her time with Team China, Chan saw firsthand how the game is evolving, and she remains hopeful for what the future holds for women’s hockey worldwide.

Chan’s journey to the Olympics was defined by hard work and preparation, but nothing could fully prepare her for the nerves of stepping onto the ice for the first time on the world’s biggest stage. As the starting goalie for Team China’s opening game, the weight of the moment was heavy. 

“Before the game, I was so nervous,” she admitted. “We were doing video, and I was doubting myself, thinking there were so many people there. I’ve never played in a game this important, with this many people relying on me, these expectations.”

But if there’s one thing Chan learned from her years in hockey, it’s how to stay composed, even when doubt creeps in. 

“Especially as a goalie, I’m supposed to be the calm one. If the goalie is nervous, the whole team’s going to [be nervous].” 

Her success in that opening-game hinged on her mental approach, using visualization as a cornerstone of her routine.

"You can only be on the ice so much; your body can only take so much. That mental prep is a big thing," she explained. 

Once on the ice, her mindset was simple but powerful: focus on the task at hand. 

"As a goalie, I have one job,to stop the puck," she said. "You make a mistake? Let’s be better next play, use the energy to make you better." 

Even in her best performances, Chan never stops looking for ways to improve. "The best game of my life? I could probably pick out 10 things I could have done better."

China used experience at the Olympics as a springboard for even greater things. Two months after the Games, Chan competed with China in the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship Division IB in Katowice, Poland. The team cruised to victory, scoring 38 goals in the group and earning a promotion into the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship Division IA, which they hosted in November 2022. 

Nine months later, China won the Division IA tournament and was promoted to full entry into the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship, China's first appearance in the top tier of international women’s ice hockey since 2009.

As Chan steps into the role of captain this season, she embraces both the challenges and opportunities that come with it. 

"It’s been a learning curve," she admitted. "I’m trying to stay the same person that I am but growing into that position for my teammates. I want to give them the best opportunity I can."

Her approach to leadership is rooted in consistency and accountability. "Playing-wise, I want to show up every day, be consistent, and do my part," she shares. 

"The team goal is to go back-to-back. I definitely think we have the team to do it." As captain, she aims to guide the team both on and off the ice with her steady presence and dedication.

While Chan remains focused on her current team and their goals, she acknowledges the exciting opportunities that await after her collegiate career. "The PWHL is an amazing opportunity and it was the right move for women’s hockey," she said.

With one more season of eligibility remaining after this year, Chan knows there’s still time to prepare for what comes next. 

"I want to play with the highest talent, the best players, and I would love the opportunity to play in the PWHL one day," she shared. "Obviously, a lot of work to get there, but I think I have the potential and I can compete in those games. It’ll come in time."

For now, her focus remains squarely on the present. "I haven’t thought too much about playing there because I’m focusing on the present and our team here," she said. Still, her drive and dedication leave no doubt that she’ll be ready for the next chapter when the time comes.