‘She’s like Bobby Orr’: USA’s Matthew Tkachuk on Caroline Harvey’s dominance

Game recognizes game.

When speaking to the media after practice on Wednesday, Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk was asked about his thoughts on the United States’ women’s team’s dominating win over Canada on Tuesday night.

In addition to acknowledging the American victory, Tkachuk noted the performance of one of the U.S.’s best players, defender Caroline Harvey.

“Caroline Harvey’s like Bobby Orr,” Tkachuk said she was the best player on the ice, and felt like, by a lot, like she was incredible.”

Certainly high praise, comparing one of the best players in college to that of the man who revolutionized the position over half a century ago. Then again, for those who have seen Harvey’s growth since her Olympic debut four years ago, it’s nothing we don’t already know.

Harvey posted a goal and two points in the victory over the Canadians, marking the Americans’ seventh straight victory over their northern rivals, helping the U.S. finish first in Group A with a perfect 4-0-0 record.

Tuesday’s performance marked the second consecutive game in which the University of Wisconsin star scored three points, bringing her total to seven in the group stage and tying her with Germany’s Laura Kluge for the most so far.

For those seeing Harvey’s game for the first time, they are amazed by her speed, tenacity, and vision with and without the puck, eerily similar to that of Orr. Those skills have been on display both on the international and collegiate scenes for the past few years. After not registering a point at the 2022 Beijing Games, Harvey’s game evolved into a dynamic two-way defender.

The Pelham, N.H., native plays a wide-open style of hockey, as evidenced by her performances with Team USA and the Badgers. While some might worry about how willing she is to jump into the play, her acceleration and endurance make her capable of quickly retreating to her defensive posture.

Harvey has been a key part of Team USA, helping the team win two gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, leading the 2023 tournament with 14 points in seven games. She has also been one of the best players in the NCAA since she arrived on campus in Madison in 2022. She has scored at least 35 points in each of her four seasons, including a career-high 63 points during the 2024-25 campaign, en route to winning a second national championship with the program.

This season, alongside fellow Olympians Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms and Ava McNaughton, the Badgers are the best team in college hockey, and Harvey is regarded as one of the best players in the country. With 54 points in 26 games, she sits third in the nation in scoring, sitting behind USA teammate and Minnesota star Abbey Murphy (61 points) and Wisconsin compadre Lacey Eden (56 points). Thanks to another impressive season, Harvey is a favorite to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best player in women’s college hockey, and is in the conversation to be taken first overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft.

While she has yet to play a game in the pro ranks, Harvey’s ability to be a difference-maker in best-on-best competition and the capability to completely take a game over by herself have made her a star player and someone who is going to lead the next wave of American talent for years to come.

The United States will be in quarterfinal action in Milan on Friday night, taking on upstart Italy.