Written by Aries Wickham
Who knew that one 118-degree day in Agoura Hills, California, would lead to the first women’s hockey team to play at the Maccabiah.
It’s easy to assume Chelsey Goldberg was born into the sport that’s made her a star. But her athletic career didn’t start on the ice. Goldberg began her career as a lacrosse player and competitive swimmer. It wasn’t until her childhood friends were given rollerblades that her hockey journey began. She spent countless hours under the scorching sun rollerblading with her friends and twin brother, Chad. However, her games were cut short by the 118-degree weather. Her parents knew that although the twins were having fun, it was not safe for them to be outside in that extreme weather every day, meaning it was time to try and translate the twins’ passion inside towards something cooler, much cooler.
That’s when Chelsey stepped onto the ice for the first time. Once Chelsey’s hockey potential was realized, she knew it was time to put her blood, sweat, and tears into her new sport. Hockey wasn’t work for her, it was a labor of love.
“When hockey came along, I just developed this crazy passion for it,” she reminisces.
Chelsey played boys’ hockey with her brother until age 16.
“You don’t realize it at the time, but [now I have] just so much appreciation and gratitude for our parents and family for supporting us along the way and realizing that when we did find the passion for hockey,” she says.
Unfortunately, Chelsey suffered her first concussion at the age of 16 while playing with the boys. She decided that if she wanted to play collegiate hockey, she’d have to switch to girls’ hockey. Chelsey figured a concussion was a pretty clear sign to make the switch. Goldberg went on to play forward for the Northeastern University Huskies women’s ice hockey team.
Although her story ultimately has a happy ending, it’s not without its own challenges. In 2010, she broke her right fibula. The following year, she broke her left fibula and then contracted a severe case of mono, forcing her to sit out four consecutive seasons that started in high school and lasted well into her college career.
“I know that everything was happening for a reason and that regardless of what I was going through,” she says. “I would be a better person, a better teammate, a better friend, a better daughter, sibling, and more importantly, as good of a hockey player as I could be.”
It wasn’t until after graduation that Chelsey came up with a new hockey endeavor. In 2013, Chelsey’s brother travelled to Israel to play hockey in the 19th Maccabiah. After finding out about Chad’s appointment, Chelsey immediately requested to play alongside him on the men’s team. Her request was ultimately denied, and so began her journey to create the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team for the 21st Maccabiah in 2022. She spent countless hours with Maccabi USA, not only for herself but for other top Jewish female players. Chelsey took it upon herself to attempt to compile the names of female Jewish hockey players and spread the word through her small but mighty network. Chelsey never regrets the work she put into creating and fundraising for the team’s creation.
“At the end of the day hockey is a team sport,” she said. “I am really excited to share these memories and experiences and moments with my new teammates.”
Chelsey is excited to play again this year. Although she has taken a step back this year and left her beloved hockey team in the hands of Maccabi management, she has full faith that the USA will field a strong team. When Chelsey and her team played for the first time at the 21st Maccabiah, winning silver, they knew that was only the beginning of women’s hockey. They are ready to go for gold at the 22nd Maccabiah in July.
Aries Wickham is a 12th grader at New York City’s Columbia Secondary School, where she is Technical Director of the school musical, Producer of the Shakespeare play, and Head of Media Production for WCSS.