Hockey

2026 Winter Olympics Preliminary Recap

With the preliminary rounds concluding, the quarter-final pairings at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina have been set as a total of 54, with Western Collegiate Hockey Association ties competing for a chance to advance to the semifinals.

Complete information on the tournament schedule and results can be found here: Schedule and Scores - 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Through the preliminary rounds, WCHA connections have combined for 83 points as 35 athletes have at registerd at least one point. Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey has totaled seven points for Team USA off two goals and five assists, while Minnesota Duluth's Thea Johansson has registered the second most with six (4g, 2a) for Team Sweden. Minnesota's Abbey Murphy (1g, 4a) and Wisconsin legend Hilary Knight (2g, 3a) have both totaled five for Team USA. Seven with league ties have tallied four points each throughout the preliminary rounds, including four current WCHA student-athletes in Wisconsin's Laila Edwards and Ohio State's Joy Dunne, Hilda Svensson, and Jenna Raunio. 

Quarterfinals Schedule 
The Quarterfinals begin on Friday, Feb. 13th, with Team Czechia facing Team Sweden at 9:40 AM CT, followed by Team USA and Team Italy at 2:10 PM CT. The remaining Quarterfinal matchups will take place on Saturday, Feb. 14th, with Team Canada taking on Team Germany at 9:40 AM CT and Team Finland facing Team Switzerland at 2:10 PM CT.

The full schedule of the Olympic Games can be found here: Schedule and Scores - 2026 Olympic Winter Games 


ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Team USA (14 players, 6 current, 5 staff)
Taylor Heise, Minnesota (1g, 1a)
Abbey Murphy, Minnesota (1g, 4a)
Grace Zumwinkle, Minnesota+
Kelly Pannek, Minnesota (1a)
Lee Stecklein, Minnesota
Cayla Barnes, Ohio State
Hannah Bilka, Ohio State (3g, 1a)
Joy Dunne, Ohio State (2g, 2a)
Britta Curl-Salemme, Wisconsin (3a)
Laila Edwards, Wisconsin (1g, 3a)
Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin (2g, 5a)
Hilary Knight, Wisconsin (2g, 3a)
Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin
Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin (1a)
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*
Cal Dietz, Minnesota Associate Director of Athletic Performance - Strength and Conditioning Coach*

Katie Million – Former WCHA Commissioner - General Manager

Team Canada (10 players, 1 Staff)
Jocelyne Larocque, Minnesota Duluth 
Jennifer Gardiner, Ohio State (1a)
Sophie Jaques, Ohio State (1a)
Emma Maltais, Ohio State (1a)
Natalie Spooner, Ohio State (1g) 
Daryl Watts, Wisconsin (2g, 2a)
Emily Clark, Wisconsin (2g)
Blayre Turnbull, Wisconsin (1a)
Ann-Renee Desbiens, Wisconsin 
Sarah Nurse, Wisconsin (2a)
Staff
Caroline Ouellette, Former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog - Assistant Coach

Finland (9 players, 4 current, 2 staff)
Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota*
Michelle Karvinen, North Dakota (1a)
Emma Nuutinen, North Dakota 
Susanna Tapani, North Dakota +
Sanni Vanhanen, Ohio State (1g, 1a)
Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State
Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State*
Jenniina Nylund, St. Cloud State (1a)
Siiri Yrjölä, St. Cloud State*
Staff

Satu Kiipeli, Former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog - Team Leader
Saara Tuominen, Former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog - Assistant Coach 

Sweden (8 players, 6 current, 1 staff)
Josefin Bouveng, Minnesota (1g, 1a)
Tindra Holm, Minnesota Duluth
Ida Karlsson, Minnesota Duluth (1a)
Thea Johansson, Minnesota Duluth (4g, 2a)
Emma Söderberg, Minnesota Duluth+
Jenna Raunio, Ohio State (4a)
Mira Jungåker, Ohio State (1g)
Hilda Svensson, Ohio State (4a)
Staff

Ida Kyrilis, Former Minnesota State Maverick - Strength & Conditioning Coach 

Switzerland (5 players, 1 Current)
Lara Stalder, Minnesota Duluth 
Andrea Braendli, Ohio State 
Laura Zimmerman, St. Cloud State (1g)
Saskia Maurer, St. Thomas 
Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas

Czechia  (5 players, 2 current, 1 staff)
Natálie Mlýnková, Minnesota (3g, 1a)
Tereza Plosová, Minnesota (1g)
Katerina Mrázová, Minnesota Duluth (1a)
Klára Hymlárová, St. Cloud State (1a)
Adéla Šapovalivová, Wisconsin (1a)
Staff

Carla MacLeod, Former Wisconsin Badger - Head Coach

Italy (1 staff)
Cyndy Kenyon, Former Wisconsin Badger - Assistant Coach

Germany (3 Players, 1 Current, 1 staff)
Nina Jobst-Smith, Minnesota Duluth (2g, 1a)
Laura Kluge, St. Cloud State
Svenja Voigt, St. Cloud State
Staff

Jennifer Harss, Former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog - Strength & Conditioning Coach

Current Student-Athlete/Staff Member

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.

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