Senior leadership propels UConn to Hockey East championship

In partnership with

Tia Chan has been on quite the journey in the five years since she arrived on UConn’s campus.

She started 10 games as a freshman before taking the next season off to play in the 2022 Winter Olympics for Team China alongside teammate Camryn Wong and former Husky Leah Lum. Both Wong and Lum went on to professional careers after starring for UConn. Chan is clearly set to follow as she wraps up a decorated final season as a Husky.

The Hamilton, Ontario native started 26 games after the Olympic year, earning Hockey East third-team honors. In 2023-2024, she played in 24 games, earning second-team all-league as she posted a 1.31 GAA and helped the Huskies break through for their first Hockey East title and NCAA Tournament appearance. 

That team lost in overtime in its first-round game. Last season, Chan earned Hockey East Goaltender of the Year along with a first-team nod, but UConn lost to Northeastern in the conference tournament semifinals and did not make the cut for the 11-team field.

As a fifth-year player, Chan had the opportunity to go anywhere in the country, head coach Chris MacKenzie said. She may have even been ready to go pro. But she chose to stay with the Huskies.

This season, Chan repeated as goaltender of the year and first-team honoree, then landed as one of 10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top player in Division 1. She’s backstopped UConn to 26 games, crushing the program record of 18, and passed the program mark for saves in a season. Entering Saturday’s showdown with Northeastern, she was 3rd in the nation in save percentage and 6th in GAA.

In her final game at Toscano Family Ice Forum, Chan showed why her teammates called her a “brick wall” and the longtime “backbone of the team. She led UConn to a 2-1 double overtime victory over Northeastern in the Hockey East championship game at Toscano Family Ice Forum. Chan made a career-high 57 saves, 33 of which came across the two OT periods to ensure UConn prevailed.

“It’s special just to have this last game in this building a win, and a win with a trophy,” Chan said. “Top to bottom, doing it with this group is so special.”

“We gave up a few too many chances in OT for my liking,” head coach Chris MacKenzie said. “Tia Chan was there to get it done for us.”

The team’s senior class has led the program to new heights. They were the first to spend four seasons in Toscano, not only a significantly-improved home venue but an elite setup for practice and development. The building could only do so much, though. The seven players in the class were the ones actually winning.

“Before we scored, there was a TV time-out, and I basically told the team I don’t think our goalie is gonna let us lose,” MacKenzie said. “So somebody needs to make a play, get this thing done.”

That’s exactly what Kyla Josifovic — the senior captain who has been a key contributor since day one — did, with the help of a line that only recently reconnected.

“We put that line together about six games ago,” the coach shared. “They played a lot last year together. We just needed a spark offensively and we found it with that look.”

Skating with a 3-on-2 advantage, Claire Murdoch sent a centering pass to Ashley Allard, who shot the puck from point-blank range that was saved. The rebound found Josifovic on the back side and she buried it to secure the program’s second Hockey East Tournament crown in three years. 

“Honestly, it was just a blur,” Josifovic, who’s first on the team in points (38), said. “My linemates had been buzzing all game.”

Right after the win, MacKenzie told ESPNews that Josifovic “helped us get it done all year round.”

Health, Without the Hassle

Between work, family, and everything else, most people aren’t looking for another complicated wellness routine. They just want something that works.

AG1 Next Gen is a clinically studied daily health drink designed to support gut health, fill common nutrient gaps, and help maintain steady energy. One scoop a day, and you’re covered.

Start your mornings with AG1 and get 3 FREE AG1 Travel Packs, 3 FREE AGZ Travel Packs, and FREE Vitamin D3+K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first subscription.

Get started today

Saturday night’s final also set a record for attendance for the women’s Hockey East final. The final scenes were worthy of a movie. As the overtime winner struck the net, the horn blared and the Huskies stormed the ice, throwing their gloves and sticks in the air. 

“It’s surreal when it happens. You see the puck go in, red light, whole thing, the crowd goes nuts, it’s a memory,” MacKenzie said.

“The crowd was amazing,” Chan said. “I don’t know if we could have done it without the crowd. They kept us in it, they had our backs the whole game.”

Saturday night’s victory was a full team effort. In addition to Chan’s 57 saves, the Huskies blocked 39 shots. UConn scored first off the stick of sophomore Sadie Hotles in the second period. Christina Walker backhanded the puck into the zone before Livvy Dewar sent the puck to the center in traffic and Hotles pushed it in. Northeastern got the equalizer on a power play in the same period. 

“This one was something truly special,” Josifovic added. “It’s something that’s unmatchable of a feeling when you’re playing with that much energy in the building.”

This year, the Huskies have the best offensive team in MacKenzie’s 13 years, featuring nine players with 20 or more points. That depth helped them stay fresh through the two sessions of extra time. After losing to Northeastern three times in the regular season, UConn got one when it mattered most.

The Huskies will find out their NCAA Tournament fate in Sunday’s Selection Show, starting at 11:30 a.m. on ESPNU. For their efforts this season, both UConn and Northeastern are guaranteed spots in the tourney field, along with two other teams from Connecticut, Quinnipiac and Yale.

Now, the Huskies will try to squeeze a few more victories of the senior class.

“Anyone you’re playing’s gonna be good,” MacKenzie said, noting some keys to his squad’s return appearance. “They're gonna be a champion or a highly-ranked team. It’s gonna be a battle. I think it’s just understanding what you’re about, play your game, take advantage of opportunities and enjoy it. It’s a fun experience and I’m so proud of this group getting us there.”