Eric Boggs
Ohio State pride was on full display at the 2026 Winter Olympics as Joy Dunne prepares to return to the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s ice hockey program as an Olympic gold medalist, highlighting a remarkable international showing for current and former Buckeyes.
Dunne joined fellow United States teammates Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka in securing gold with a 2–1 victory over Canada. While none of the trio scored in the championship game, their impact across the tournament was undeniable. Bilka produced four goals and three assists, Dunne added two goals and three assists, and Barnes contributed a goal while anchoring the third defensive line. The victory marked a second Olympic gold for Barnes, who was also part of the 2018 championship squad, while Dunne and Bilka celebrated gold in their Olympic debuts.
Buckeye influence extended well beyond Team USA. Four former Ohio State standouts earned silver medals with Canada as Jenn Gardiner, Sophie Jaques, Emma Maltais, and Natalie Spooner each played key roles. Jaques tallied three assists, Maltais added two, and both Gardiner and Spooner scored once during the tournament, reinforcing the Buckeyes’ reputation as a pipeline for elite international talent.
The global reach of Ohio State’s program was further illustrated by Andrea Brändli, who backstopped Switzerland to a bronze medal with a stellar 161 saves on 169 shots. She elevated her play in elimination rounds, surrendering just three goals on 119 shots, and closed the tournament with 32 saves in a bronze-medal win over Sweden. The lone goal she allowed in that game came from current Buckeye defenseman Mira Jungåker, assisted by fellow Ohio State forward Hilda Svensson. Jungåker and Svensson were joined on Sweden’s roster by freshman defenseman Jenna Raunio, while another Buckeye freshman, Sanni Vanhanen, represented Finland, which fell 1–0 to Switzerland in the quarterfinals thanks to Brändli’s 40-save performance.
From gold to silver to bronze, the tournament served as a powerful reminder that Ohio State’s women’s hockey program continues to shape the sport on the world stage, with Buckeyes not only participating but defining the outcome of hockey’s biggest international moments.
