Robin Goldman is an assistant captain with the University of Michigan Wolverines, club president, and recently gained experience and gave experience coaching in Taiwan.
Robin Goldman is a senior on the University of Michigan women's hockey team. She's also a major in Asian Studies. The combined passions led to a unique opportunity to study and eventually help with a hockey program in Taiwan.
While taking courses in Taipei City, Taiwan, Goldman enjoyed exploring the community, nature, and culture, until one day she decided she missed the rink, and took to the internet.
"I just looked up 'does Taiwan have hockey rinks," recalled Goldman, who found one only a few bus stops away from her apartment. As soon as she found a hockey rink so close, she looked at social media and found a club named the Taipei Tigers. After messaging the coach, Goldman quickly found herself on the ice in a loaned pair of skates helping coach young girls in Taiwan.
"I came out and they gave me a group of five little girls, just to do drills with, it was super fun," she said. "My favourite part was when I got to hang out with the kids, eat lunch with the kids, play games, it was really fun. Getting to know them off the ice really helped us bond and me be able to better coach them on the ice."
Back in North America this season, Goldman is an assistant captain with the University of Michigan Wolverines, an ACHA DI program. She's also the club president.
In international competition, Taiwan's women's hockey program has a long way to go. They are currently in the Division 2A World Championship bracket alongside Spain, Mexico, Iceland, Belgium, and Kazakhstan.
Someday, perhaps the young girls coached by Goldman will make the national program, or travel overseas to join the University of Michigan.