SOCHI, Russia – Julie Chu played only nine shifts in Team USA’s, 3-1, victory over Finland on Saturday, for a total of 6 minutes and 13 seconds of ice time. But that time was packed with heart, soul and hustle from the 31-year-old veteran making her fourth and perhaps final appearance in an Olympic tournament.

As the next generation of players step into the center ice spotlight, Chu is happy to take on more of a supporting role and find other ways to help the team.

“I might not be seeing the minutes I have in the past, but for me the big thing is to own whatever minutes I do see,” said Chu, who joins former teammates Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero as the only four-time Olympians.

“We all have roles that we’re going to be asked to play, and I think it’s being willing to play whatever role we’re asked.”

That’s always been the case for the Fairfield, Conn., native, dating back to her first kick at the Olympic can 12 years ago.

In 2002 she was the wide-eyed newcomer looking to help the United States defend its Olympic gold medal from the inaugural Games. Chu’s youthful enthusiasm made her an instant favorite with veteran teammates and fans alike in Salt Lake City.

Four years later, she was hitting her prime on the ice, but it was her positive demeanor in the wake of a shakeup that saw veterans Cammi Granato and Shelley Looney off the U.S. Olympic roster was a much-needed shot in the arm.

And in 2010 in Vancouver, Chu, the ultimate team player, made the transition from forward back to the blue line to bolster a talented but relatively inexperienced D corps.

And now there’s Sochi, where Chu has accepted her latest role as a fourth line energy player, willing to kill penalties and provide a spark when the team needs a shot of infectious enthusiasm.

And she does it all with her characteristic smile and upbeat attitude.

“It’s not up to me whether I go out there or not, but if I don’t I’m going to cheer my teammates on and if I get the nod then I’ll go,” said Chu, who is always at the rink, whether as an assistant coach at Union College or as a player with the Montreal Stars of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.

“That’s something that we’ve built or team culture on, the Team First mentality and it’s something that I believe in my core. If I don’t live it every day than why would my teammates?”

Her teammates recognize that and often seek her out for sage advice or a sympathetic ear.

 “Chuey is an incredible teammate. She brings a great light to our locker room and is willing to do whatever is asked of her and she always does it honorably,” said Meghan Duggan, who was passed the torch of captaincy after Chu led the team at the last two Women’s World Championships.

“She’s been around for a long time and brings a lot of leadership and experience and I know that everyone on the team really looks up to her.”

And while the skills that she first developed within the storied Connecticut Polar Bears program are still evident to even the most casual observer, it’s her intangibles that most likely cemented a spot with the team. Rather than sitting on the bench and sulking over a reduced role, Chu is the ultimate teammate, serving as cheerleader, mentor and confidant if one of her teammates is having coming off of a tough shift or is having a bad day.

“I think the great thing here is that a lot of our young players bring a youthful enthusiasm. For me, I hope to convey a little bit of the calmness and knowing what to expect to a certain extent,” Chu said. “But also I’m not looking to hold back the excitement of the first timers or even the second timers.”

Nobody appreciates that positive attitude more than the U.S. coaching staff. Too often coaches have had to deal with disgruntled veterans who do not go gently, or quietly, into the twilight of their playing days.

“Julie is embarking on her fourth Olympic roster because she’s been willing to adjust her game and embrace the role that’s been given to her,” said head coach Katey Stone, who coached Chu for four years at Harvard University.

“It changes over time, depending on where you’re at in your career. Julie has been a great penalty killer and utility player for us. She’s just a strong character kid who is willing to do whatever she can for her team. And that’s a huge part of why she is here.”

That attitude comes from a genuine appreciation for what hockey has given her, and not what she expects in return.

“Any day that I get to be in a national team jersey is a great day,” she said. “I’ve been blessed to be on the team since 2000, and I’ve never taken a day for granted. And I’m not about to start now.”