Hilary Knight Leads Team USA to Feb. 19 Gold Medal Showdown Against Canada
Updated (4 articles)
Seattle Torrent Core Anchors U.S. Women’s Hockey Hilary Knight, 36, returns for a fifth Olympics, one of six Seattle Torrent players on the 2026 U.S. women’s roster. The Torrent contingent also includes forwards Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and defender Cayla Barnes, all contributing to the team’s early dominance. Knight’s presence marks a continuity of elite talent from Seattle, reinforcing the city’s growing influence in women’s hockey [1].
Gold‑Medal Game Set for Feb. 19 Against Canada The United States will meet Canada at 10 a.m. PDT on Thursday, Feb. 19, in the gold‑medal match broadcast on USA Network. Both outlets stress the rivalry as “one of the most beautiful” in sport and note the U.S. team’s defensive strength, conceding only one goal in the opening game versus Czechia on Feb. 5. The schedule and broadcast details are identical across the reports, confirming the high‑profile showdown [1][2].
Washington Athletes Capture First Olympic Medals in Italy Western Washington University alum Breezy Johnson won the women’s downhill on Feb. 8, posting a 1:36.10 run to claim the first U.S. medal of the Games. Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan earned bronze in the inaugural women’s alpine combined, delivering Washington’s first medal in that discipline. These achievements complement the Torrent players’ hockey success and highlight the state’s broad Olympic impact [2].
Hilary Knight’s Record‑Setting International Career Knight holds ten IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals, the most by any player, and she owns tournament records for goals, assists and points. Her Olympic résumé includes a debut in Vancouver 2010 and a gold medal from PyeongChang 2016. Knight describes wearing the USA jersey as “magical,” underscoring her personal motivation heading into the final [1].
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King5: Hilary Knight heads Team USA into fifth Olympic gold‑medal showdown – Emphasizes Knight’s career milestones, the Seattle Torrent representation, and the upcoming U.S.–Canada gold‑medal game on Feb. 19 .
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King5: Washington Athletes Earn Medals at 2026 Winter Olympics – Highlights Washington‑state athletes’ first Olympic medals (Johnson, Wiles, Moltzan) and notes the Torrent players’ hockey contributions and gold‑medal schedule .
Timeline
2010 – Hilary Knight makes her Olympic debut with Team USA at the Vancouver Winter Games, beginning a career that later includes multiple World Championship titles and Olympic medals [1].
2016 – Knight helps Team USA win gold at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, cementing her status as a core contributor to the national program [1].
2018 – Knight adds a second Olympic gold medal to her résumé as part of the U.S. women’s hockey team’s victory [4].
2022 – Washington native Katie Hensien finishes 26th in the women’s slalom at the Beijing Winter Olympics, gaining valuable experience for future Games [4].
2023 – Hensien contributes to the U.S. team’s gold‑medal performance at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, showcasing her development since Beijing [4].
2024 – Alex Carpenter earns a spot on the World Championship All‑Star team, highlighting her continued elite play ahead of her third Olympic appearance [4].
2024 – Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes win the NCAA women’s hockey national championship with Ohio State, a milestone that propels both to the 2026 U.S. Olympic roster [3].
Feb 4, 2026 – Four Seattle Torrent players—Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka, and Cayla Barnes—are named to the U.S. women’s hockey roster, marking the professional club’s unprecedented representation on an Olympic team [3].
Feb 4, 2026 – Knight praises Seattle’s fan support, saying the city’s love “makes me feel the love, you feel the support,” underscoring the community’s role in her Olympic journey [3].
Feb 4, 2026 – Carpenter recalls midnight skating sessions with her father’s NHL influence, illustrating the personal dedication behind her third Olympic run [3].
Feb 4, 2026 – Barnes shares that watching the 2010 Vancouver Games at age 11 inspired her Olympic dream, highlighting the generational impact of past Games [3].
Feb 4, 2026 – Bilka describes representing the United States as “one of the highest honors,” reflecting the pride of debuting on the Olympic stage [3].
Feb 5, 2026 – Team USA women’s hockey opens the tournament with a 4‑1 win over Czechia, conceding only one goal and demonstrating dominance heading into the gold‑medal matchup [2].
Feb 8, 2026 – Breezy Johnson captures gold in the women’s downhill with a time of 1:36.10, becoming the second American woman ever to win the Olympic downhill and delivering Washington’s first medal of the Games [2].
Feb 9, 2026 – Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan earn bronze in the inaugural women’s alpine combined, marking Washington’s first medal in the new Olympic discipline and highlighting the event’s debut at Milan [2].
Feb 2026 – The 2026 Winter Olympics feature the Olympic debut of ski‑mountaineering (SkiMo), with former UW runner Anna Gibson representing the U.S., illustrating the expansion of the Games’ program [4].
Feb 2026 – Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer competes for Germany, while forwards Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko skate for Finland and Oscar Fisker Molgaard for Denmark, showcasing the NHL’s global Olympic footprint [4].
Feb 2026 – Knight calls the USA‑Canada women’s hockey rivalry “one of the most beautiful rivalries in sport,” emphasizing the competitive stakes ahead of the gold‑medal game [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – The United States faces Canada in the women’s hockey gold‑medal game at 10 a.m. PDT, broadcast on USA Network, with the outcome set to determine the Olympic champion [1][2].
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