As always, click the blog title to go visit the website the article came from, usahockey.com
Sept. 13, 2007
By Cameron Eickmeyer
www.usahockey.com
When it comes to hockey, there isn't much Julie Chu hasn't accomplished or at least attempted.
Harvard University's all-time leader in assists and the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Award winner has an impressive college resume to go along with multiple tours with the U.S. Women's National Team. She was part of the silver medal-winning 2002 Olympic team, notching four points in five games, and looks to have a bright future as a player on Team USA.
A new challenge Chu intends to meet head on will involve heading off the ice for the first time in her hockey career. Beginning this season, Chu will serve as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Coaching helps fulfill a longtime dream for Chu and will keep her busy as she simultaneously prepares for Women's National Team events.
We sat down with Chu on a recent visit to Colorado Springs to talk about her future as a coach and player.
USA Hockey.com: What are your feelings about taking on the sport from a coach's perspective for the first time?
Chu: I'm just excited to be on the other side of things. Having both perspectives will help me grow as a player.
USAH: What from your playing career will you transfer to your coaching style?
Chu: I've gone through the whole experience of playing college hockey. It can be difficult to enjoy college life in the 'normal' experience so I can help my players adapt.
USAH: What from your playing days will you try to avoid in your coaching style?
Chu: Sometimes you have to let (the players) make mistakes...It's OK to let them make mistakes. Seeing how they react to mistakes is what counts.
USAH: How will you adapt to coaching and still competing as a Team USA member?
Chu: It will be a challenge compared to being in college and just being a student athlete. It will be a lot harder to find ice time...but I'll have the opportunity to be in the college atmosphere and with the team so I'll still get some ice time and training.
USAH: The UMD roster has quite the mix of players from all across the world, what is your outlook on that aspect of the team?
Chu: Now you've got a lot of international flavor and the cultures are melded together. I'm excited to learn and I'm going to pick their brains about life in their country.
USAH: Along those lines, some of your players will end up across the ice from you on the international stage (Such as Team Russia forward Iya Gavrilova), will that affect how you approach playing them or coaching?
Chu: When I'm with the UMD team my whole focus is on the UMD team. Hopefully we'll (Chu and opponents/players) will be able to teach each other a lot.
USAH: Moving into the coach's bench came pretty quickly for you. Was it something you were aiming toward as your college playing career wound down?
Chu: It was something I wanted to do for a while. I like interacting with players that 'get it.' Hopefully it all goes well and it's something I can do for many years.
USAH: Looking on to your still thriving National Team career, what does the U.S. Women's team need to do to succeed in the near future on the international stage?
Chu: We had a lot of turnover since the last Olympics. We definitely want to develop the younger players. I'm excited to see how the team is going to grow.
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