Starting April 14, Keene State Women’s Ice Hockey sophomore goaltender Ai Chung competed for the Chinese Taipei national women’s ice hockey team at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championships in Bled, Slovenia, placing third in the tournament.
Chinese Taipei, a Division II nation in ice hockey, competed against the national teams of Slovenia, Poland, Iceland and Australia. North Korea was slated to play, but according to the IIHF, withdrew over logistical issues. The IIHF world championships work on a promotion and relegation system, where the top team of each division is promoted, and the team with the worst record is relegated. With North Korea’s withdrawal, none of the teams playing in the Division II Championship were at risk of relegation.
Chung made the roster twice in Chinese Taipei’s four games, starting against Slovenia. Chinese Taipei lost the game to their hosts 6-3, with Chung saving 21 of 27 shots in 59 minutes of play. Despite a close 2-1 opening period, Slovenia ran away in the second period with two goals. Chinese Taipei attempted a comeback and evened the third period 2-2, but fell short of a win.
Chung next saw the ice against eventual champions Poland. Chinese Taipei was shelled 12-1 by Poland, with Chung facing 26 shots in the first period. Chung was pulled early in the second and Chinese Taipei put in backup goaltender Tzu-ting Hsu. Hsu faced an additional 41 shots through the next two periods, with Poland scoring six and four goals across periods two and three.
An IIHF summary of the tournament described the dramatic shootout that earned bronze for Chinese Taipei over Iceland. Chinese Taipei scored two early in the first, but Iceland forced overtime after two quick goals in the third period. Despite a power play in overtime, Chinese Taipei held Iceland scoreless and forced a shootout, where Christine Tzu‑Shen Chao scored the lone goal and won bronze for her country. Chinese Taipei improved its performance over the last two years, finishing fourth in 2024 and 2025.
Before the tournament, Women’s Ice Hockey Head Coach Rob Morgan praised Chung’s goaltending skills on the ice. “When I first saw her play, I knew she had game,” Morgan said. “She had potential to be a real impact player at our level last year. She tracks the puck incredibly well, […] her second and third effort saves are always through the roof.”
Playing for Keene State in the 2025-2026 ice hockey season, Chung achieved a goals against average (GAA) of 2.88 and a save percentage of .932, good for ninth and fourth in the Little East Conference (LEC), respectively. Chung was second in the LEC in saves per game, stopping an average of 37.14 shots.
Athletic Director Marty Testo spoke highly of Chung and her opportunity to play for her country. “I know we’ve had some athletes do Olympic trials [for] swimming and diving and things of that nature, but when you talk about, you know, the world championships, that’s amazing, right?” Testo said. “I think it speaks to the volume of her ability and her recognition on the national stage, let alone the Division III stage. It’s unbelievable recognition for Keene State College Women’s Ice Hockey. Like, who wouldn’t want to come play here?”
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