Northeastern University
A native of Huntington Beach, CA, Chanda is one of the top women’s hockey players in the nation. In fact, she was one of the 10 finalists last year for the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top women’s collegiate hockey player in the country. She posted a 23-6-1 record along with a 1.37 GAA and a .937 save percentage and was named an ECAC All-Star. This year, she is a candidate for the Kazmaier Award again, as she had a sparkling 1.98 GAA and a .934 save percentage through the midpoint of the season.
The mere fact that she is playing hockey is remarkable, let alone excelling in the sport. The reason is that in the fourth grade she was diagnosed with epilepsy and didn’t pick up hockey until she was 14 years old. It didn’t take her long to excel, though, and by the time she was ready for college, she matriculated at the University of Wisconsin.
Despite posting a 3-3-2 record as well as a 1.91 GAA and a .933 save percentage, things didn’t work out for Chanda so she transferred to Northeastern. She saw limited action in her first year as she was adjusting to life at Northeastern, while beginning her course of studies in Athletic Training and serving as the backup goalie for Northeastern.
Then came last season and her emergence as a premier collegiate goalie.
As committed as she has been to improve as a hockey player, that is how focused she has been on helping others.
Her involvement in community activities began in 1995 while still in high school in her native California. From 1995-98, she was a volunteer coach with the local mite and squirt teams and began teaching in the "Skate/Mommy and Me" programs. She also began working at summer clinics, camps, and pre-season practices for the Cal Selects (formerly Team California) girls’ hockey program at all age levels
She then spent a year at the Taft School before matriculating at the University of Wisconsin. While at Taft, she worked in a soup kitchen.
During the 1999-2000 season, she was a head coach for the Cal Selects U12 team, and, even though she is attending school in Boston, she continues to coach the Cal Select U12s.
Her desire to help in the local community continued when she began at Northeastern. During the 2000-01 season, she began assisting the local U12 South Shore Kings in the league’s initial season and currently assists the team with practices and in tournaments. She also participated in the Campus Clean Up Day and volunteered for the Boston Breakers in the initial season of the WUSA.
Last year, she organized the team to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and she remains active with the CFF and the Great Strides Walk, which raises money to help cure Cystic Fibrosis. In addition, she trained with a Hospice program to become a Hospice volunteer and aid those suffering from terminal illnesses, most with less than six months to live.
This year, she is an active member of the Northeastern Student Athlete Advisory Board, is a student mentor for freshmen in the athletic training program, and is in the process of becoming a Big Sister in the Big Brother/Big Sister of America Program.
"As much as a catalyst Chanda is for our women’s ice hockey program, she is having the same positive impact within the community," wrote Northeastern women’s hockey coach Joy Woog in her letter of nomination. "Her contributions to society lead far beyond hockey. She does so much for others in her free time that I can’t keep track of it all.
"When a player dedicates herself to your team, her education and ministering to others, you find yourself cheering in her corner," concluded Woog. "Through her search to be the best person she can, she unknowingly challenges me to do the same. I believe she does this for many." |
