Hilary Knight remains focused, but ‘really grateful’ heading into final Olympics
It’s crazy to think that, four years from now, we won’t be talking about Captain America leading her team into the Olympics.
Yet, that’s the reality we face, as Milano Cortina will mark Hilary Knight’s final Winter Games of her storied career.
The 36-year-old announced last spring that the tournament next month will be her last at this level, ending a decorated chapter in the game’s history. She admits that her feelings heading into Italy have changed, but she wasn’t initially sure how to approach her final tour of Olympic duty with Team USA.
“When I announced it was my last Games,” Knight said in an interview with Daily Faceoff. “Internally, I wasn’t sure how I was gonna feel. Is it, like, one of these things where I’m gonna hold onto it too tightly, and be like, ‘Oh, I really want to do this,’ or is it, ‘I’m just gonna let it ride, and it’s just gonna flow?’ Fortunately, it’s been the latter.”
Knight might’ve made her national team debut in 2007 at the age of 17, but it wasn’t until a few years later that she first stepped onto Olympic ice in Vancouver. Since then, she has been part of three silver-medal-winning teams, along with helping bring home the country’s second gold medal in women’s ice hockey in 2018. The Sun Valley, Idaho native recognizes what this particular tournament means to her.
“When I look at the longevity of my career on the international stage, it’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve met some amazing people, some I call lifelong friends…I’m really grateful to be able to do this for as long as I have been able to. I’m really excited.”
She isn’t sure what emotions she’ll have when things are all said and done in Milan, but the veteran is excited to be immerseed into the Olympic culture once again.
“Once I get my sort of boots on the ground there, I’m just gonna be consumed by the Olympics and the tournament…navigating kind of what that tournament looks like. It’s just so special. Having young faces go through team processing, do the opening ceremonies…it’s a really unique experience.”
After the 2022 Winter Olympics, where fans were not allowed to attend due to COVID-19, Knight is elated to have more interaction with friends and family in her final Winter Games.
“You don’t really realize how deeply they impact your life in sort of that ecosphere, right? It was really eerie to walk into the building when you’re playing best-on-best, and there’s nobody in the stands…So, really looking forward to the opportunity to… to feel the crowd, whether they’re cheering for us, booing us, doesn’t matter. They’re there to watch the entertaining show.”
Knight understands that there will be more eyes on the women’s tournament than ever before. The popularity of the sport has skyrocketed in recent years, especially with the rise of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. The Seattle Torrent captain sees how this Olympic tournament is going to be an exciting one.
“It’s gonna be an awesome tournament. From us as competitors, we’re in it. We’re gonna have a ton of fun competing, but I think the fans are in for a treat as well.”
Unlike on any of her previous four trips to the Olympics, Knight and Team USA have never been viewed as this big of a favorite to win gold as they are this year. Along with winning gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship last year, the Americans waxed Canada in the Rivalry Series, outscoring their northern foes by an overall score of 24-7 over the four games.
Yet, Knight recognizes that, on the big stage, you can’t let the past determine the present.
“The Rivalry Series was a good barometer for our group…naturally, our group is confident, we definitely have sort of a swagger about us…but, make no mistake about it, when you get into best-on-best, it really doesn’t matter, you just have to show up at the right time.”
Whenever Knight decides to hang up her skates, she will go down as one of the most decorated players in hockey, regardless of gender. On top of her four Olympic medals, her 10 world championships are tied with IIHF Hall of Famers Alexander Ragulin and Vladislav Tretiak for the most for any single player. Knight has 15 medals all-time at the Women’s Worlds, by far the most among any player. Not to mention that Knight was the first-ever IIHF Female Player of the Year in 2023.
Knight will be looking to add one last Olympic gold to her mantle. She was a key piece in the 2018 team that helped win the country’s second gold medal in the tournament, and first since the inaugural tournament in 1998.
The U.S. will kick off its Group A schedule on Thursday, Feb. 5, when they take on Czechia. The Americans will also go up against Finland and Switzerland before facing Canada on Feb. 10. The quarterfinals begin on Feb. 13, with the gold medal being handed out on Feb. 19.
The interview was held in conjunction with Hershey’s, as the famous chocolate company rolled out a campaign dubbed ‘Hershey’s. It’s Your Happy Place.’ It shows not only the athletes hard at work, but the impact their families had on their path to greatness, with the company’s major marketing campaign with ‘Happiness Is the Real Gold.’
“There’s just something so special about the Olympics, because in its entirety, like, you’re celebrating everyone. … My friends and family, and it’s everyone’s friends and family, you know? How we got to where we are, it takes a whole team behind the team. To have Hershey’s kind of tell that story, and loop my family in, and throw them in a production day…there’s a big tearjerker. So, I’m really excited for that spot. I’m really excited for the storytelling.”
Knight was one of a few Olympic and Paralympic athletes chosen for the campaign, with limited-edition chocolate medals being part of the campaign.