Katie Chan made her first PWHL shot count.
The undrafted rookie opened the scoring in Vancouver’s 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge on Tuesday night scoring her first career PWHL goal on her first shot on goal at 7:50 of the first period. The goal stood up as the game-winner and helped the Vancouver Goldeneyes become the first team in PWHL history to win its first three home games of an inaugural season.
Chan finished the night with three shots on goal and recorded her first professional point, continuing a steady start that has seen her dress for all six of Vancouver’s games this season.
Brian Idalski heaps praise on Katie Chan’s all-around game
After the game, Goldeneyes head coach Brian Idalski made it clear that Chan’s breakthrough was not accidental. He pointed to her all-around reliability describing her as a player who consistently makes smart decisions across the ice.
“Katie’s all-around game is super dependable and super reliable. She uses her speed as F1 on the forecheck and makes smart, simple decisions all over the ice,” he said.
Idalski then highlighted her speed as a first forechecker and her awareness in situational plays. He also heaped praise on Chan’s willingness to do the necessary work when the game demands it whether that means getting pucks deep or winning contested board battles.
“When a puck needs to get deep, she gets it deep. If there’s a board battle and we need to get to the next level, she gets to the next level.”
That consistency, Idalski said, is why Chan earned his trust quickly. Her commitment to a 200-foot game has allowed her to fit seamlessly into Vancouver’s structure despite entering camp without a guaranteed roster spot.
Undrafted path to an everyday role in Vancouver
Chan’s early-season role is notable given how she arrived in Vancouver.
She went undrafted in the PWHL Entry Draft and earned her place through a training camp invite. Six games into the season, she has not come out of the lineup and seems to have earned her role through defensive responsibility and reliability.
Against Ottawa, that approach paid off. Chan was in position around the net, reacted quickly to a loose puck and finished the rebound in a simple play that reflected the habits Idalski had previously mentioned since camp.
Before turning pro, Chan built a dependable NCAA career split between Colgate and Cornell where she was valued for her versatility and hockey IQ.
After college, Chan spent time in Sweden’s SDHL with Färjestad BK gaining experience in a structured professional environment. That exposure appears to have helped ease her transition into the PWHL particularly in terms of decision-making and pace.
A milestone at home for Chan
Katie Chan’s first goal came at Pacific Coliseum in front of family and friends.
During the postgame conference, coach Idalski also acknowledged the significance of that setting and expressed excitement for the way Chan has earned it through her play.
“I’m obviously really excited for her to get her first goal and to do it at home in front of family and friends is pretty special,” he said.
Vancouver continues to find different ways to win
Chan’s goal was part of a balanced team effort on the night.
Jenn Gardiner doubled Vancouver’s lead early in the second period with an unassisted goal on a partial breakaway. Ottawa pushed back hard outshooting Vancouver 34-29 and generating 13 shots in the third period alone.
Kristen Campbell turned aside 33 shots to earn her first win of the season. Idalski praised her calm efficient performance, pointing to her positioning and puck handling as key factors in weathering Ottawa’s late pressure.
Anna Shokhina scored Ottawa’s lone goal late in the third, but Vancouver held on to secure the win.
Early cohesion for a new group
Six games into the Goldeneyes’ existence, Idalski described the team’s progress as encouraging but ongoing.
He noted that early road games exposed areas for growth while recent home wins have reinforced confidence. Importantly, Vancouver has not relied on the same players to produce every night which is something Idalski believed was possible based on the roster assembled over the summer.
“Any given night, somebody can be that player, and that’s what you’re seeing. I also believed we could win a one-goal game like that, that we could get up and down the ice, and that we have the potential to win a shootout as well. It’s encouraging. I’m happy with the progress we’re making and the confidence we’re starting to gain in each other as we play,” he said.
The victory made Vancouver the first team in PWHL history to win its first three home games of an inaugural season and moved them into second place in the standings with eight points and a 2-1-0-3 record.
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