U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Advances at 2026 Olympics
On Saturday, the U.S. women’s hockey team improved to a solid 2-0 at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. The captain, Hilary Knight, made history by tying the U.S. Olympic record, scoring in consecutive games. The team celebrated a convincing 5-0 win over Finland, which brings her total Winter Olympics goals to 14, matching those scored by Natalie Darwitz and Katie King.
The American team dominated a Finland squad that was dealing with health issues, pushing their Olympic winless streak against the U.S. to 0-11. Vice President J.D. Vance was also present at the game, cheering on the team, which many consider a favorite to take the tournament.
In terms of performance, defenseman Megan Keller contributed significantly, netting one goal along with two assists. Teammates Alex Carpenter, Taylor Heise, and Abby Murphy also found the net. Goalie Aerin Frankel recorded her first Olympic shutout, stopping 11 shots in just her second Olympic appearance.
Finland returned to the rink as a full squad for the first time since a troubling incident where four players had shown symptoms of norovirus during a practice. This led to a dramatic reduction in their roster size, forcing Olympic officials to postpone their match against Canada until February 12.
Despite the setbacks, Finnish coach Tero Letala remained determined. Just prior to game day, he reassured that they would compete against the U.S., even if it meant taking the ice with fewer players. After cancelling a morning session, the team managed to regroup just hours before the game, featuring all 22 players.
Goaltender Sanni Ahola faced an onslaught, making 44 stops overall, including 14 saves against 15 shots in the first period alone. Alex Carpenter managed to score during a power play, putting the U.S. ahead just before the end of the first period.
Vice President Vance was seated next to Jake Paul at the Milano Ice Hockey Arena. They took a break during the intermission, and Paul’s fiancée, Jutta Lierdam—who is a speed skater for the Netherlands—joined them shortly after. Usha Vance, the second lady, sported a prominent “USA” sweatshirt.
Nearby, some notable figures included 2010 Olympic figure skating gold medalist Evan Lysacek and hockey Hall of Famers Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, both part of the gold-winning U.S. team from the 2018 Olympics.
