You see number 19 skid through other girls, hockey sticks hitting the ice, and the puck flying one end of the rink to the other side. Senior Cynthia Kyin skates through the rink, hockey stick in one hand, blocking the puck like its the last thing she wants to do.
At the age of five and a half, Kyin started off with figure skating. Something so similar yet so different, she later started to play ice hockey competitively at the age of 13. She decided to switch from the frilly skirts and glitter to hockey sticks and shoulder pads when she gave ice hockey a shot after seeing her older brother play.
“I liked playing ice hockey better, and I was better at it than figure skating,” Kyin said.
Kyin started ice hockey in Skokie and Evanston with the boys until she started to play for the Chicago Mission Coyotes (sponsored by Coyote Logistics). Kyin plays defense for her team which is categorized as girls under the age of 19. They’ve been exceedingly successful through their years; awhile back they were ranked number one in the country. Kyin and her teammates are constantly going out of town to participate in many games. Their ranking now is 38 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tied. So far, they are first in their conference.
“It’s hard to balance school and hockey, especially because my ice rink is like an hour away. The game and tournaments are usually out of town too. This weekend I have to drive to Canada on Thursday” Kyin said.
When she was younger, Kyin wasn’t just brilliant on the ice. During her seventh and eighth grade years, she would go to Taft high school to take higher level classes. Living in the city throughout middle school, she was stuck with the decision of which high school she would want to go to. Instead of following her brother to Whitney Young High School, Kyin had the choice to go to Taft High School enrolled in their IB program, Lincoln Park enrolled in their double honors program, or come to Niles West. She ended up going to West because transportation to the school and rink was easier and her mother lived in Skokie already.
“I was sort of ‘forced’ to go to West, but it isn’t that bad,” Kyin said laughing.
Starting from the very first day of high school, Kyin made friends quick. Senior Anisha Mannancheril has been friends with Kyin since the very beginning.
“[Kyin] knows how to balance her academic, athletic, and social life. From the first time I met her she introduced herself with hockey. She’s always there for you. No matter how busy she is with her schedule, she will help you with anything anytime you ask,” Mannancheril said.
Graduating in 2014, Kyin has already committed to Brown University. Still playing hockey there, Kyin also wants to major in chemistry and eventually go into pharmacy.
“I like chemistry because it’s more of a conceptual subject and your knowledge grows from there. It builds up from the previous chapters you already learned,” Kyin said.
“The first day I met Cynth was the first day of AP Chemistry. We became good friends really fast. She’s so intelligent, I mean she got into Brown!” Senior Armeen Sayani said.
“I’m very excited to attend Brown University this fall. I loved the campus when I went to visit, and I get to play hockey while going to really good school,” Kyin said.
