Tia Chan is the reigning NCAA Goaltender of the Year. It’s an award that has been won by PWHL stars including Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips, Team USA netminder Ava McNaughton who plays at Wisconsin, and PWHL Detroit training camp invite Michelle Pasiechnyk. Slightly undersized at 5-foot-6, Chan finished a sparkling four-year career at UConn, and represented China at the 2022 Olympics and two World Championships. On paper, Chan could be a starter in the PWHL. But on a team that isn’t expected to score much, and could struggle in all areas of the ice, Chan could face pressures that go beyond what any rookie can manage without hurting their confidence and development. San Jose could also approach the season as a tandem with Levy, who has played eight PWHL games over the past three seasons as the other option. Levy played games with both the New York Sirens and Boston Fleet, but with mixed reviews. Levy brings experience and size to San Jose’s crease, but she’s yet to show in her limited starts that she can carry more. It leaves San Jose’s hopes resting on Chan, which could turn out to be an incredible success story, or another blow to what most already categorized as an uphill battle for San Jose.
