Seattle Torrent Stars Lead Team USA Women’s Hockey at Milan 2026 Olympics
Updated (3 articles)
Seattle Torrent Players Anchor USA Women’s Hockey Roster Four Seattle Torrent athletes—Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Cayla Barnes and rookie Hannah Bilka—made the 23‑player Team USA women’s hockey squad for the Milan Games, with Knight marking her fifth Olympics and Carpenter and Barnes returning for a third [1]. Knight praised the Torrent’s fan base, saying the city’s “love and large crowds” give her a unique boost, while Carpenter highlighted her hockey lineage and Barnes recalled being inspired by the 2010 Vancouver Games [1]. Bilka, a 2024 national champion with Ohio State, described the selection as “one of the highest honors” [1].
Washington Athletes Compete in Ten Sports Across the Games More than a dozen competitors with Washington ties are slated for Milan, spanning alpine skiing, curling, speed skating, ski‑mountaineering and both short‑track and long‑track events [3]. Notable names include alpine skier Katie Hensien (Redmond), junior curlers Ben Richardson and Luc Violette, and speed‑skater Cooper McLeod (Kirkland) who will race the 500 m and 1,000 m [3]. The roster also features first‑time Olympic participants such as ski‑mountaineer Anna Gibson and short‑track relay skaters Eunice Lee and Corinne Stoddard [3].
Games Run Through Feb. 22 with Extensive Local Broadcast Coverage The 2026 Winter Olympics continue in Italy until February 22, 2026, with opening and closing ceremonies receiving dedicated KING 5 broadcasts at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. PST respectively, alongside NBC’s national feed [2]. A detailed PST schedule lists event times, network partners (Peacock, NBC, USA Network, CNBC) and highlights medal‑contending Washington athletes, enabling fans to follow each competition live [2]. The guide also flags curling mixed‑doubles and both men’s and women’s hockey matches featuring local stars [2].
Seattle’s Pro Clubs Export Talent to Multiple Nations Beyond the four Torrent players on Team USA, former Torrent alum Julia Gosling competes for Canada and Aneta Tejralová represents the Czech Republic, underscoring the club’s international reach [1]. Seattle Kraken NHL players also appear for three different countries: goaltender Philipp Grubauer for Germany, forward Kaapo Kakko for Finland, and winger Eeli Tolvanen also for Finland, with Oscar Fisker Molgaard skating for Denmark [3]. This cross‑national representation highlights Seattle’s growing influence on the global Olympic stage [1][3].
Debut Sports and New Olympians Expand Washington’s Presence The Milan Games introduce ski‑mountaineering (SkiMo), where former UW runner Anna Gibson will compete in the sport’s Olympic debut [3]. Short‑track skaters Eunice Lee and Corinne Stoddard join U.S. relay teams, while long‑track skater Cooper McLeod makes his first appearance in speed skating events [3]. These newcomers add depth to Washington’s delegation and signal the state’s expanding talent pipeline across emerging Olympic disciplines [3].
Sources
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1.
King5: Seattle Torrent Players Boost Team USA Women’s Hockey at Milan Olympics: Highlights four Torrent athletes on the U.S. roster, their Olympic histories, fan support, and mentions alumni on Canada and Czech teams .
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2.
King5: Washington Athletes’ Schedule for 2026 Winter Olympics: Provides a PST timetable, broadcast details for opening/closing ceremonies, and lists Washington athletes across sports, emphasizing local viewing options .
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3.
King5: Washington athletes set to compete across ten sports at 2026 Winter Olympics: Details the breadth of Washington’s participation, profiles athletes in skiing, curling, hockey and speed skating, and notes debut events and Kraken players representing other nations .
Timeline
2010 – Cayla Barnes watches the Vancouver Winter Games at age 11, a moment she later cites as the spark that drives her to fulfill an Olympic dream with Team USA [2].
2022 – Katie Hensien finishes 26th in the women’s slalom at the Beijing Winter Olympics, marking her Olympic debut before returning for Milan [3].
2023 – Hensien contributes to the U.S. alpine team that wins gold at the World Championships, bolstering her experience for the 2026 Games [3].
2024 – Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes capture the NCAA women’s hockey title with Ohio State, a championship that propels both onto the 2026 U.S. Olympic roster [2].
2024 – Alex Carpenter earns All‑Star honors at the World Women’s Hockey Championship, underscoring her status as a veteran leader for her third Olympic appearance [3].
Early Feb 2026 – The 2026 Winter Olympics open in Italy; NBC airs the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. PST with additional KING 5 coverage, kicking off a two‑week competition schedule [1].
Feb 6‑22, 2026 – The Games run through Feb 22, featuring Washington‑linked athletes across ten sports, from speedskating to ski‑mountaineering, as detailed in a PST‑focused broadcast guide [1].
Feb 2026 – Four Seattle Torrent players—Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes—make the U.S. women’s hockey roster, highlighting the club’s impact on the national team [2].
Feb 2026 – Hilary Knight tells KING 5 that Seattle’s “large crowds” make her “feel the love, you feel the support,” emphasizing the city’s unique backing for a first‑year franchise [2].
Feb 2026 – Alex Carpenter returns for her third Olympics, recalling midnight skating sessions with friends that ignited her lifelong passion for hockey [2].
Feb 2026 – Cayla Barnes reflects on watching the 2010 Vancouver Games as a child, noting that the experience cemented her vow to become an Olympian [2].
Feb 2026 – Hannah Bilka describes representing the United States as “one of the highest honors” for a roster limited to 23 players [2].
Feb 2026 – Former Torrent teammates Julia Gosling (Team Canada) and Aneta Tejralová (Team Czech Republic) also compete, illustrating the club’s international reach [2].
Feb 2026 – Washington athletes debut in new Olympic disciplines: Anna Gibson skis‑mountaineers (SkiMo) in the sport’s first Olympic appearance, while short‑track skaters Eunice Lee and Corinne Stoddard join relay teams, and long‑track speedskater Cooper McLeod races the 500 m and 1,000 m events [3].
Feb 2026 – Seattle Kraken NHL players represent three nations in men’s hockey: Philipp Grubauer (Germany), Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen (Finland), and Oscar Fisker Molgaard (Denmark), showcasing the league’s global Olympic footprint [3].
Feb 2026 – Washington curlers Ben Richardson and Luc Violette lead the U.S. junior program, bringing multiple national titles and family curling legacies to the Olympic stage [3].
Feb 2026 – Alpine skier Katie Hensien returns to the Olympic slopes after her 2022 debut, adding depth to the U.S. women’s alpine squad [3].
Feb 22, 2026 – The closing ceremony airs at 11:30 a.m. PST with KING 5 special coverage, concluding the Milan‑based Winter Games [1].