Julie Chu to Take Part-Time Duties With Les Canadiennes

Chu To Coach Concordia Stingers Full-time

SportsJordan Stoopler — Published September 26, 2016

She has practices Monday through Thursday—in the morning with the Stingers and the evening with Les Canadiennes—with video sessions in between and games on the weekend. With the new head-coaching job, Chu took the decision to go from a full-time Canadiennes player to a part-time one.

“I am getting older and am starting to shift into wanting to run my own program,” Chu said.

Chu is returning as head coach of the Stingers this upcoming season—beginning on Oct. 14—and it’s a position she is prioritizing this year as her playing days are coming to an end.

“When the opportunity to coach at an amazing university like Concordia came about, it was definitely something I wanted to take advantage of,” said Chu. “This is what I wanted to do with my life for a long time.”

For the past two years, Chu has been actively involved with the women’s hockey program at Concordia, starting off as an assistant coach under Les Lawton for the 2014-15 season. When Lawton was forced to take a medical leave of absence last year, it was Chu who took over the reins.

Chu will not be hanging up her skates for good. She will be patrolling the Montreal Canadiennes blue line for a seventh straight season.

“She’s in a time of transition,” recognized Patrick Boivin, Director of Recreation and Athletics for Concordia University. “She still has an appetite for hockey with Les Canadiennes, but I think she’s also very cognizant that she wants to be looking ahead to what the rest of her career may hold.”

Chu will play for Les Canadiennes part-time when her schedule at Concordia permits. There will be ten occasions when her coaching schedule will conflict with her playing for LEs Canadiennes. Her duties at Concordia will take precedence.

Juggling both jobs takes up a great deal of Chu’s time. A closer look inside her weekly schedule showcases a long list of tasks, responsibilities and commitments that she must fulfill.

Such a hectic lifestyle is not unchartered waters for the 34-year-old. She was an assistant coach in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs from 2007-2010 and with the Union College Dutchwomen from 2010-2013 while still training with the U.S. National Team.

Chu suggests that occupying both roles simultaneously has made her more appreciative of the sacrifices being made by Les Canadiennes coaching staff.

“I am more thoughtful when it comes to the preparation that goes into having a successful team and having everything run smoothly,” said Chu. “I know the number of hours that not only the coaches but the support [that] staff put in to make it easy for players to just show up at the rink and play.”

She realizes that decisions as to who comes in and out of the lineup and the amount of ice-time a player receives are not taken lightly.

“I am able to understand the big picture that coaches are looking at when they make decisions,” Chu said.

The Bridgeport, Connecticut native also says she has benefitted as a coach through the process. She is up-to-speed with present-day hockey and the current systems being used in the game, she explained.

Boivin believes that Chu’s previous experience as a player at Harvard and as an assistant coach in the NCAA will benefit her as the new Stingers head coach.

“She understands what student-athletes are going through as they balance both academic and athletic responsibilities. As a result, she has been able to alter her coaching techniques, acting as ‘a mentor and guide’ to her players,” said Boivin.

Chu is grateful for the support given to her by Les Canadiennes organization, from the players to the coaches and front-office staff.

“Les Canadiennes are amazing to me,” said Chu. “They understand my work environment and are willing to be flexible with that.”

Whether near or far from the team, the club understands Chu’s mindset.

“They know that when I can be there with Les Canadiennes, I’m going to be there fully and be the best teammate that I can be for everyone,” said Chu. “When I’m not there, they know it’s because I have other things on my plate, which they support me doing. I am very fortunate about that.”

Both the Stingers and Les Canadiennes are currently preparing for the upcoming 2016-2017 season and will face off against each other on Friday, Sept. 30 at Concordia’s Ed Meagher Arena. Chu, who opted to play—not coach—in a similar exhibition contest last year, remains undecided on whether
she would be suiting up for Les Canadiennes or fulfill her head coaching duties with the Stingers. She’s waiting to see where her team is at in their preparation.

Chu is looking for growth amongst her Stingers players over the coming season. She wants to see her team capitalize more on their scoring opportunities and become an offensive juggernaut in the conference.

Boivin is also looking for progression this year. He likes their chances to consistently beat both the Carleton University Ravens and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees within their conference. He also recognizes that the McGill Martlets and Université de Montréal Carabins pose more of a challenge. But Boivin is confident the team can succeed against the local-area teams, and improve their record and playoff results in the process.

Chu was coy when asked about how much longer she intends on playing, preferring to analyze the situation on a yearly basis, but one day soon it seems her energy will be entirely devoted to winning a championship with the Stingers.

The Link refereed to Julie Chu’s team as the Montreal Canadiennes in the title when the name is Les Canadiennes. The Link regrets that error.