Julie Chu name to Boston Hockey Hall

Julie Chu takes a shot on goal in a USA Women’s National Hockey Team exihibition game against Eagan High School Boys Team. (AAP file photo)

Chu, a former captain of the Harvard University Crimson Women’s Hockey team and current Union College Assistant Coach, was inducted into the Hall during the 35th Annual Women’s Beanpot Tournament at Northeastern University’s Matthew’s Arena  Feb. 5. She was honored with Kelly Dyer Hayes, a 1990 graduate of Northeastern, and Genevieve Missirlian Vartian, a graduate of 1999 from Boston College.

Each year Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern compete in an annual tournament to claim bragging rights over their crosstown rivals for the highly sought Beanpot trophy. Chu becomes the fifth member from the Crimson to be named with the honor.

“There have been many great players, who have gone to the Boston area schools, so to be considered for the Hall of Fame is truly humbling,” Chu said. “I am just grateful for my time at Harvard and the chance to have played with so many amazing teammates, who directly contributed to any individual success I may have had. But at the end of the day, it really is the competitive experience of the Beanpot and the tradition it holds that I will remembered as a highlight of my college seasons.”

Chu will be joined by Kelly Dyer Hayes, a 1990 graduate of Northeastern, and Genevieve Missirlian Vartian, a graduate of 1999 from Boston College.

A 2007 graduate from Harvard in Psychology and Women’s Studies, Chu has compiled a decorated ice hockey career with experience in collegiate, international and professional competition.

A native of Fairfield, Conn., she was named both the ECAC Hockey and Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2002-03 and was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament team during her rookie season with Harvard. She finished second in the nation and led all freshmen in points with 93 (42-51) and points per game with 2.74. Chu was second in the nation in goals per game with 1.24 and first with 11 power-play goals.

In 129 games played, she scored 88 goals and holds the record for assists with 196. The former Crimson standout also ranks second in the NCAA history for total points with 284. She was named All-American three times (First Team in 2007 and Second Team in both 2003 and 2005) and was named the Patty Kazmaier Award recipient in 2007.

During her senior campaign, Chu paced ECAC Hockey in points with 53, scoring 16 goals and 37 assists. She led the nation in points per game with 2.20 and was a unanimously voted to the First Team All-ECACH selection. The former Crimson captain ranks third on the all-time scoring list with 284 points and own the most assists in Harvard history with 196.

With the Women’s National Team, Chu has played 25 games since the 2010 Olympics, scoring five goals and 10 assists to combine for 15 points. Prior to the 2010 Olympic Games, Chu was a member of two medal-winning Olympic Teams, winning the bronze in 2006 and the silver in 2002. Additionally, she has represented Team USA at the Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship eight times, winning the gold medal in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011 and the silver in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2012.

Union women’s hockey head coach Claudia Asano Barcomb had the opportunity to coach Chu when she was an assistant at Harvard and now has worked with Chu for the Dutchwomen for the past three seasons.

“Julie is truly an inspiration to many ice hockey players and females in the sport,” Barcomb said. “I am proud to hear she is being inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame. We have been fortunate to work with Julie and she has added so much to our program and our lives.  Her career has been wonderful to watch and I know there are many female hockey players that are lucky to play with and to know her.”

On the professional level, Chu played for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women’s Hockey League from 2007-2010. She helped the Whitecaps capture the league title in 2010 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. From 2011 to present, Chu has played for the Montreal Stars, helping them capture back-to-back WWHL regular season titles and Clarkson Cup Championships. www.WomensBeanpot.org