Women's Hockey: Paula the point machine

Sophomore forward Paula Romanchuk is better known as “Chukie.” Though this nickname may sound cute, when Romanchuk takes the ice she transforms into a player to be feared.

Head coach Jeff Kampersal ‘92 said that his star forward exhibits all the right qualities when she plays.

“Chukie is a natural leader, and I cannot emphasize that enough,” Kampersal said. “Whatever it is, Chukie has it. She is very coachable. She possesses character and a tremendous work ethic. She leads by example, and she vocally provides encouragement. As a center, she quarterbacks her line. She has vision, great hands and she is a smart player.”

Romanchuk has certainly provided an offensive spark for Princeton (10-9-4 overall, 8-4-4 ECAC Hockey). During her freshman season, the five-foot-seven-inch forward from San Jose, Calif., participated in all 31 of her team’s games. In those games, Romanchuk racked up 18 total points, which was fourth best on the team.

Princeton is currently ranked fourth in the ECAC, and Romanchuk has helped the Tigers immensely. She ranks second on the team in scoring with seven goals and 13 assists.

During a pivotal weekend in which the Tigers defeated Dartmouth and tied then-No. 5 Harvard, Romanchuk notched five total points. After that impressive weekend, Romanchuk was named the ECAC Player of the Week.

Romanchuk is the only player on Princeton’s roster who grew up in a state west of the Mississippi. Though she was born in Minnesota, where hockey is much more popular, Romanchuk didn’t start playing competitively until her family moved to San Jose.

“Around San Jose, where I grew up, there were plenty of opportunities to play,” Romanchuk said. “Having an NHL team in the city [the San Jose Sharks] helped to promote the sport and encourage its growth.”

Growing up, she was a well-rounded athlete, playing soccer, softball and tennis in addition to her first love of hockey. Her father Rod played hockey at the University of Wisconsin, which helped to solidify her interest in the sport.

“My dad played hockey, and this is definitely one of the reasons that I picked up the sport,” Romanchuk said. “I was never forced to play, but I had the opportunity to start at a young age, and I really enjoyed it.”

During her high school years, Romanchuk had a great deal of success playing for the San Jose Jr. Sharks team. During this time in her life, she developed the attributes that make her so successful on the ice.

“The best part of Chukie is her humility,” Kampersal said. “She knows she is a leader and an impact player for us, but she never thinks she is better than she is.”

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

“Paula consistently brings competitiveness and intensity to the team,” senior forward Julie Flynn added. “She is always looking for ways to improve herself.”

It is Romanchuk’s determination and drive to improve that has made her a premier player in the ECAC this season. Kampersal explained that, between Romanchuk’s freshman and sophomore seasons the forward worked on improving two aspects of her game: her strength and her footwork. The work that she put in during the offseason is paying dividends today.

“During the summer months, she improved in those two areas, and her overall game is much better due to her daily commitment to get better,” Kampersal said.

In addition to working hard, Romanchuk possesses the natural talent that is required for her position. As a fellow forward, Flynn can appreciate what Romanchuk brings to Princeton’s offense.

“Paula has a hard and accurate shot that has proven very difficult for goalies to stop,” Flynn said. “She has good hands and a quick release, which catches many goalies and defensemen off guard. Paula knows when to shoot, when to pass and when to go to the net. That has paid off, especially recently.”

Kampersal added that Romanchuk helps in all facets of the game, including penalty kills.

“We count on her to provide offense, but quietly she is a good defensive player as well,” Kampersal said. “She wins 65 percent of her faceoffs. She plays power plays and penalty kills. Essentially, in every critical part of the game we need her, Chukie is on the ice, competing hard.”

Perhaps most importantly, it is Romanchuk’s love of the game that propels her to be successful every time she steps onto the ice.

“So far, I’ve had a great experience playing for the Tigers,” she said. “We have such an awesome team on and off the ice, and I love playing with them. That has definitely contributed to the success that I’ve had while I’ve been here.”

If opposing players heard the nickname “Chukie,” they initially may not want to run and hide. But when Romanchuk steps onto the ice, she becomes a formidable offensive threat.

And when she finds the back of the net, the other team certainly is not laughing.