Growing up in Malaysia, Chee Ee Laine, or Elaine, was a successful figure skater and ice hockey goalie. Experiencing first hand the limited sporting opportunities for girls in Malaysia, Elaine took it upon herself to make a change. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and a master’s degree in Global Sports Management, she sought a career that would allow her to make a difference for future generations of female hockey players.

Elaine became general secretary of the Malaysian Ice Hockey Federation (MIHF), where she was responsible for running daily operations and serving as an international liaison to partnering federations throughout Asia and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Under her stewardship, Malaysia won three gold medals internationally, including women’s gold in the 2018 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia Division I. The federation has grown by nearly 500 percent in the past decade with more than 300 players at the youth and senior levels, including 50 players in the women’s program—a remarkable achievement for a country without a traditional winter. In 2021, Elaine was elected to the women’s committee for the IIHF while also working toward registering the first girls’ ice hockey club in Malaysia.