Chartrand began playing
ringette as a child, but eventually shifted to ice hockey. By the age of 16, she was a member of Team Quebec. At the 1995
Canada Winter Games, she claimed a bronze medal in ice hockey. Four years later, she won gold with Team Quebec at the
Esso women's hockey nationals. She played two seasons, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, with
Laval Le Mistral of the
National Women's Hockey League.
NCAA Before the 2002 Olympics, Chartrand attended
St. Lawrence University in
Canton, New York. As a member of the
St. Lawrence Saints women's ice hockey program in the
ECAC Hockey conference, Chartrand was named
Rookie of the Week on January 15, 2001. She is one of only three athletes from St. Lawrence University to have an Olympic Gold Medal – the others are
Ed Rimkus and
Gina Kingsbury. ==International play==