By Gayle Simone
Husky netminder Chanda Gunn was named to the All-American first team by the American Hockey Coaches’ Association last week. Joining Providence senior defenseman Kelli Halcisak, Gunn was one of the two players from Hockey East named to the first team.
Rounding out the first team is Angela Ruggerio of Harvard, Krissy Wendell of Minnesota and Caroline Ouellette and Jenny Potter, both from Minnesota-Duluth.
Gunn’s career at NU came to a close March 20 when University of New Hampshire defeated the Huskies 5-0 in the Hockey East Semifinals, but not before she could leave her mark in the record books.
She broke the NU mark for saves in a game with 56 against her old squad, Wisconsin, on Jan. 10. She also broke her own record for saves in a period with 23 in the same game.
“The two games against Wisconsin were some of the best goaltending I have seen on any level,” said assistant coach Michael Cox. “She brought her game to a whole other stratosphere.”
Gunn played one season with Wisconsin before coming to NU to finish her collegiate career.
Because of a medical condition, Gunn only played in seven games and received a medical red-shirt to continue her four-year eligibility. In those seven games, Gunn went 3-3-1 with a 1.93 GAA and .933 save percentage.
At the end of the season, Gunn shopped herself around and was offered a walk-on tryout with the Huskies. The result was a spot on the NU roster. Cox, the goalie coach, said he saw something special in Gunn the first time he saw her play at Wisconsin.
“I was an assistant coach at Harvard back then,” he said. “We had just won the National Championship and Chanda gave us a real scare. She shook our confidence that year. Then when I came here I was pleasantly surprised to find out we had her here.
“What makes her so special is she pushes me to make her work harder. She’s always looking to make herself better. It’s those types of things that have really made her a great player.”
Gunn leads the Huskies all-time with 2447 saves and save percentage (.938).
Gunn’s time as the Huskies netminder may have come to a close, but Gunn is ready to embark on new challenges. First up, she will be playing for the women’s U.S. National Hockey team in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 2004 World Championship March 30-April 6.
“She’s proven she can play in the big games,” Cox said.
“The bigger the game, the bigger the challenge, the better Chanda plays. That’s why I think we’ll see her in the Olympics.”
When Gunn returns after National action she will enjoy her new role as head coach of the Walpole Spitfires, a girls’ 12 and under league.
“I’m really excited about that,” Gunn said. “My life as a Husky may have come to an end, but life in hockey will continue.”
Named a finalist for the Humanitarian Award (given to college hockey’s finest citizen), Gunn is slated to attend the presentation ceremony at Faneuil Hall on April 9. Gunn was also a Patty Kazmaier Award finalist for the 2003-04 season.
