Hannah Bilka

Hannah Bilka was born on March 24, 2001, in Coppell, Texas — a Dallas suburb not exactly known as a hockey hotbed. In a state where Friday night lights mean football and ice is something you put in sweet tea, Bilka discovered her passion for hockey by watching her older brother Anthony play.

The 2010 Winter Olympics proved to be a turning point. Watching Team USA compete on the world stage ignited a fire in the young Texan that would carry her from local rinks to the Olympic Games themselves.

"There weren't a lot of girls playing hockey in Dallas when I was young. I had to play on boys' teams just to get ice time and competitive games."

Growing up in a non-traditional hockey market meant Bilka faced challenges most elite players never encounter. With limited opportunities for girls' hockey in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she played on boys' teams alongside fellow Texas native Ally Simpson — both of whom would go on to represent the United States at the highest levels.

The lack of visibility in smaller hockey markets created recruitment challenges. Unlike players from hockey hotbeds like Minnesota or Massachusetts, Bilka had to be proactive in her college recruitment, personally emailing coaches since scouts were unfamiliar with players competing in boys' tournaments in Texas.

At just 14 years old, Bilka made a decision that would define her career: she left home in Coppell to attend Shattuck-St. Mary's, an elite boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, renowned for producing NHL and Olympic talent.

The sacrifice was immense — leaving family, friends, and the only home she'd known to pursue a dream in a sport Texas barely acknowledged. But the gamble paid off. At Shattuck-St. Mary's, she developed alongside future college and professional stars, honing her skills against top-tier competition daily.

During her time at Shattuck-St. Mary's, Bilka helped lead the Sabres to a Tier 1 U19 national championship in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019. She also played lacrosse and ultimate frisbee, demonstrating the athletic versatility that would serve her well on the ice.

Boston College (2019-2023)

Bilka's college career began at Boston College, where she immediately established herself as one of the nation's premier players. Her freshman season in 2019-20 was nothing short of dominant:

• 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 34 games
• Led all rookies nationally in points per game (1.13)
• Led all rookies in assists per game (0.71)
• 126 shots on goal — first among freshmen

The performance earned her the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year award — the highest individual honor for a first-year player in college hockey. She was also named Hockey East Rookie of the Year and earned All-Rookie Team honors.

By her senior year, Bilka was named team captain, leading the Eagles while continuing to rank among the nation's top scorers. Her four seasons at Boston College produced consistent excellence, with All-Star honors in each year.

Ohio State (2023-24)

For her graduate season, Bilka transferred to Ohio State University, pursuing a master's degree in sport management while competing for the Buckeyes. The move proved transformative.

She led Ohio State in scoring with 48 points (22 goals, 26 assists) in 39 games, powering the Buckeyes to the program's first-ever NCAA National Championship. In the championship game against Wisconsin, Bilka assisted on the game-winning goal — a fitting capstone to her college career.

Boston Fleet (2024-25)

Bilka was selected fourth overall by PWHL Boston in the 2024 PWHL Draft, signing a three-year contract with the Fleet. Her rookie professional season showed flashes of brilliance — 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 16 games — before an injury during the Rivalry Series cut her season short.

Seattle Torrent (2025-present)

In June 2025, Bilka was selected third overall by the expansion Seattle Torrent in the PWHL Expansion Draft, reuniting her with legendary forward Hilary Knight — a player she'd first met at age 14 at a USA Hockey select camp.

The reunion proved electric. Deployed on Seattle's top line alongside Knight and Alex Carpenter, Bilka has become a cornerstone of the franchise's inaugural season. On November 28, 2025, she was part of the historic home opener at Climate Pledge Arena that drew 16,014 fans — a record for professional women's hockey in the United States.

"Hannah's lightning-quick skating and creative offensive instincts complement the veteran stars perfectly. She's a key piece of this franchise's future."

Bilka's international resume showcases consistent excellence across all levels of competition:

Youth Career

• 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship: 🥇 Gold Medal (Dmitrov, Russia)
• 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship: 🥈 Silver Medal (Obihiro, Japan)

Senior World Championships

At the 2022 World Championship in Denmark — her first senior international tournament — Bilka was placed on the first line alongside Hilary Knight, fulfilling a dream she'd held since meeting Knight as a teenager. She finished the tournament with 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 7 games, ranking third overall in scoring.

• 2022 World Championship: 🥈 Silver Medal — 12 points in 7 games
• 2023 World Championship: 🥇 Gold Medal — 7 points in 7 games
• 2024 World Championship: 🥈 Silver Medal — 4 points in 7 games

Rivalry Series Dominance

In the 2024-25 USA-Canada Rivalry Series, Bilka was deployed on a line with Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy. Team USA swept all four games of the December 2025 series, outscoring Canada 24-7. Following the sweep, analysts identified Bilka as a lock for the Olympic roster, with her line described as "one of the team's established top-six forward combinations."

On January 2, 2026, Bilka was officially named to Team USA's roster for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics — the culmination of a journey that began watching the 2010 Games on TV in Coppell, Texas.

Her Olympic debut has exceeded even the highest expectations. In Team USA's final preliminary round game against archrival Canada on February 10, 2026, Bilka delivered a two-goal performance that powered the Americans to a dominant 5-0 victory.

The shutout was historic: the first time Canada has ever been blanked in women's Olympic ice hockey. For a kid from Texas who once had to email college coaches because no scouts knew her name, the moment represented the ultimate validation.

With Team USA advancing to the knockout rounds as the top seed, Bilka and her teammates now have their sights set on gold — a medal that would cap one of the most improbable journeys in American hockey history.

Beyond her on-ice achievements, Bilka has remained committed to growing girls' hockey in Texas. She returns home during summers to work with youth programs and camps, serving as living proof that geography doesn't have to limit dreams.

"When I was young, there weren't many options for girls. Now there are actual girls' hockey organizations in Dallas. Young players don't have to leave home like I did. That means everything to me."

Her journey from Coppell to the Olympics represents more than individual achievement — it's a roadmap for young athletes in non-traditional hockey markets. Every shift she takes in Milan Cortina carries the dreams of Texas kids who never thought hockey was for them.

At 24 years old, with an Olympic roster spot secured and years of elite hockey ahead of her, Hannah Bilka is just getting started. But her story is already complete enough to inspire: a Texas girl who believed in herself when no one else had a reason to, and proved that heart can overcome any map.