Recent University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey graduate Christine Chao has signed her first professional contract with the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) as announced Wednesday.

"I graduated two years ago, and honestly, I think I did want to continue playing hockey, but I graduated right in the middle of COVID, so I just thought there weren't many opportunities that came up," said Chao. "When this opportunity to play for the Toronto Six came up, I was excited. I was fired up and I said, 'Hey, you know what, I love this sport, I love hockey, I want to continue my career', and here I am."

The four-time OUA all-star was named a member of both the OUA and U SPORTS all-rookie teams after leading all OUA defencemen with 15 assists in 2015-16. 

Chao was honoured as the OUA defender of the year, OUA most sportsmanlike player and a U SPORTS second team all-Canadian in helping the Blues to the 2018-19 OUA silver medal and a sixth-place finish on the national stage. That season, she led all OUA defencemen with 17 regular-season points. 

She capped off her career with her second straight OUA defender of the year and first team all-star honour in leading U of T to their first OUA McCaw Cup title since 2002-03.

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