One of the most heated rivalries at the Milan-Cortina Olympics will unfold at the hockey arena. The women of Team USA will try to reclaim the gold medal from Canada, which came out on top last time. And a “Hometown hopeful” will be at the center of the action. Forward Hannah Bilka is from coppell but she’s not the only North Texan making a name for herself in the growing women’s hockey scene.
One of the fiercest rivalries at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics will once again play out on the ice, as Team USA’s women take on Canada in the hunt for hockey gold. This time, a hometown connection adds to the story.
Hannah Bilka, a forward on Team USA, grew up in Coppell and is preparing to compete on the sport’s biggest stage. And she’s not the only North Texan helping drive the growth of women’s hockey.
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In late December, fans packed the American Airlines Center—not for the Dallas Stars, but for a Professional Women’s Hockey League matchup between the New York Sirens and Seattle Torrent. Both teams featured Texas natives.
New York’s Allyson Simpson is from Frisco. “Every time I tell people I’m from Texas, they’re shocked,” Simpson said.
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Seattle’s Bilka began playing hockey at a rink in Farmer’s Branch, where hockey was a family affair. “I ended up just following my brother,” Bilka said.
The two women recently returned home to drop the ceremonial puck at a Stars game, a moment that highlighted the sport’s rapid rise.
“There’s finally a professional women’s hockey league,” Bilka said. “It’s really exciting to have all the best players in one place.”
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For Simpson, the growth marks a major change from her early experiences. “The reason I moved away for part of my career was because a coach said he didn’t want a girl on his team,” she said.
Today, young girls line up for autographs—and dream bigger. “It’s so cool to show little girls that this is a possibility now,” Simpson said.
That momentum carries into the Olympics. Bilka says the level of competition in the PWHL mirrors international play. “It’s such competitive hockey every game,” she said.
Simpson, who has played internationally, knows the intensity of the U.S.–Canada rivalry. “It’s always super competitive—physical, fast and fun,” she said.
The U.S. won gold in 2018, and Canada won it in 2022. Milan promises another heated showdown. Both players hope the Olympics and the professional league will inspire the next generation.
“People can now dream of being a pro—even from Texas,” Bilka said.
And for Simpson, the message is simple. “The rink is my happy place,” she said. “It’s home.”
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