Fifty-four with Western Collegiate Hockey Association ties are set to represent their respective countries at the upcoming 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina. The WCHA has produced the most athletes of any conference, in any sport, at the upcoming Olympics!
Across seven different countries in the competition, there are 54 players with WCHA ties, including 19 current student-athletes who were named to their respective team rosters. In addition, eight from the WCHA will serve in staff positions for the respective countries.
Find a complete list of players with WCHA ties set to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics below.
SCHEDULE
The action begins on Thursday, February 5, with the preliminary rounds and ends with the Gold Medal game scheduled for Thursday, February 19th at 12:10 PM CT. Group A consists of Canada, Czechia, Finland, Switzerland, and the United States, while Group B will consist of Japan, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and France. Games will be held at the Milano Rho Arena and Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. The Opening Ceremonies for the Winter Games are Friday, Feb. 6 at 1 PM CT and air live on NBC.
The full schedule of the Olympic Games can be found here: Schedule and Scores - 2026 Olympic Winter Games
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Team USA leads the way in WCHA representation, having 14 skaters, including five current student-athletes, while Team Canada is second with 10 former league standouts. Team Finland has nine with WCHA connections, four of which are current. Team Sweden has the most current WCHA athletes with six on its roster and eight total. Both Team Switzerland and Team Czechia have five athletes, while Team Germany has three, including current St. Cloud State Husky Svenja Voigt.
By school, Wisconsin and Ohio State have 12 Olympians each, and Minnesota is third with nine. Both Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State will have eight with ties set to compete for their respective countries, followed by North Dakota with three and St. Thomas with two.
Along with the 54 total skaters, several from the WCHA will be serving in staff roles across four different countries at the event. Team USA will have five WCHA representatives, including Minnesota State Head Coach Shari Dickerman (Assistant Coach), St. Thomas Assistant Coach Ali Altman (Goaltending Coach), and Wisconsin Athletic Trainer Stefanie Arndt (Athletic Trainer). Former Badger Sis Paulsen will serve as the Equipment Manager for Team USA, while former WCHA Commissioner Katie Million is the team's General Manager. Former Badger Carla MacLeod will guide Team Czechia as its head coach. Caroline Ouellette, a former Minnesota Duluth standout, is an Assistant Coach for Team Canada, and Cyndy Kenyon of Wisconsin will serve as an assistant coach on Team Italy's roster.
Full Roster Breakdown
Team USA (14 players, 5 current, 5 staff)
Taylor Heise, Minnesota
Abbey Murphy, Minnesota*+
Grace Zumwinkle, Minnesota+
Kelly Pannek, Minnesota+
Lee Stecklein, Minnesota+
Cayla Barnes, Ohio State
Hannah Bilka, Ohio State
Joy Dunne, Ohio State*
Britta Curl-Salemme, Wisconsin
Laila Edwards, Wisconsin*
Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin*+
Hilary Knight, Wisconsin+
Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin*
Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin*
Staff
Sis Paulsen, Wisconsin - Equipment+
Shari Dickerman, Minnesota State Head Coach - Assistant Coach*
Alli Altmann, St. Thomas Assistant Coach - Goaltending Coach*
Stefanie Arndt, Wisconsin Assistant Director of Sports Medicine - Athletic Trainer*
Katie Million – Former WCHA Commissioner - General Manager
Team Canada (10 players, 1 Staff)
Jocelyne Larocque, Minnesota Duluth +
Jennifer Gardiner, Ohio State
Sophie Jaques, Ohio State
Emma Maltais, Ohio State +
Natalie Spooner, Ohio State +
Emily Clark, Wisconsin +
Blayre Turnbull, Wisconsin +
Ann-Renee Desbiens, Wisconsin +
Kristen Campbell, Wisconsin
Sarah Nurse, Wisconsin +
Staff
Caroline Ouellette, Former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog - Assistant Coach
Finland (9 players, 4 current)
Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota*
Michelle Karvinen, North Dakota +
Emma Nuutinen, North Dakota
Susanna Tapani, North Dakota +
Sanni Vanhanen, Ohio State*
Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State
Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State*
Jenniina Nylund, St. Cloud State +
Siiri Yrjölä, St. Cloud State*
Sweden (8 players, 6 current)
Josefin Bouveng, Minnesota*+
Tindra Holm, Minnesota Duluth
Ida Karlsson, Minnesota Duluth*
Thea Johansson, Minnesota Duluth*
Emma Söderberg, Minnesota Duluth+
Jenna Raunio, Ohio State*
Mira Jungåker, Ohio State*
Hilda Svensson, Ohio State*
Switzerland (5 players, 1 Current)
Lara Stalder, Minnesota Duluth +
Andrea Braendli, Ohio State +
Laura Zimmerman, St. Cloud State* +
Saskia Maurer, St. Thomas +
Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas +
Czechia (5 players, 2 current, 1 staff)
Natálie Mlýnková, Minnesota
Tereza Plosová, Minnesota*
Katerina Mrázová, Minnesota Duluth+
Klára Hymlárová, St. Cloud State+
Adéla Šapovalivová, Wisconsin*
Staff
Carla MacLeod, Former Wisconsin Badger - Head Coach
Italy (1 staff)
Cyndy Kenyon, Former Wisconsin Badger - Assistant Coach
Germany (3 Players, 1 Current)
Nina Jobst-Smith, Minnesota Duluth
Laura Kluge, St. Cloud State
Svenja Voigt, St. Cloud State*
* Current Student-Athlete/Staff Member
+ Previous Olympic experience