Eric Boggs
Ohio State women’s hockey will be front and center on the international stage as the 2026 Winter Olympics get underway in Milan, Italy, with a dozen current and former Buckeyes representing their countries in women’s hockey. For Ohio State fans, it’s another powerful reminder of how far the program has come and how deeply its impact now reaches across the global game.
Five active Buckeyes are stepping away from collegiate competition to chase Olympic dreams: forwards Joy Dunne of the United States, Hilda Svensson of Sweden and Sanni Vanhanen of Finland, along with Swedish defensemen Mira Jungåker and Jenna Raunio. They are joined by seven Ohio State alumni, including Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka for the United States; Jenn Gardiner, Sophie Jaques, Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner for Canada; and goaltender Andrea Brändli for Switzerland.
For many of these players, the Olympics have been a lifelong goal. Dunne, Ohio State’s leading scorer and the youngest member of Team USA, described the moment she received her selection call as overwhelming and deeply emotional, a culmination of a dream she’s carried since childhood. That sense of fulfillment is shared throughout the Buckeye contingent in Milan.
Head coach Nadine Muzerall, who took over the program in 2016, sees this Olympic representation as a direct reflection of years of relentless work behind the scenes. What fans see on the ice, she says, is only the finished product of an intense daily grind that demands commitment, resilience and trust from everyone in the program. A decade ago, the idea of Ohio State sending a dozen players to the Olympics would have seemed unthinkable. Now, it feels like the natural result of sustained excellence.
The players believe their time in Columbus has prepared them to compete at the highest possible level. Jungåker credits Ohio State’s practice environment and team culture as ideal preparation for Olympic hockey, emphasizing the constant competition and support that define the Buckeyes’ locker room.
Seven of Ohio State’s Olympians are experiencing the Games for the first time, while others bring significant experience. Maltais and Vanhanen are skating in their second Olympics, Barnes and Brändli their third, and Spooner her fourth. Several Buckeyes already know what it takes to stand atop the podium, with Spooner, Barnes and Maltais having previously won Olympic gold, and Vanhanen earning bronze in Beijing in 2022.
Back in Columbus, the absence of five key contributors presents a challenge as Ohio State closes out the regular season. Still, the Buckeyes are not alone, as conference rivals Wisconsin and Minnesota are dealing with similar Olympic-related absences. For a team ranked second nationally and pursuing its third national championship in five years, navigating this stretch is part of the larger picture.
Muzerall acknowledges the difficulty of reintegrating players after such an emotional high but is confident in their passion for Ohio State and their motivation following last season’s national championship loss. More than anything, she embraces the joy of watching her players experience the Olympics, from the competition itself to the once-in-a-lifetime moments surrounding it.
The tournament will also feature Buckeyes facing off against one another, particularly in Group A, which includes the United States, Canada, Finland and Switzerland. Sweden, competing in Group B, could still cross paths with several Ohio State teammates later in the event. No matter the jersey colors, the shared Buckeye bond remains strong.
As the women’s hockey competition begins, Ohio State fans will have plenty of familiar names to cheer for across multiple nations. From Columbus to Milan, the Buckeyes’ presence underscores the program’s stature and the pride that comes with seeing scarlet and gray talent shine on the world’s biggest stage.
