From the Metroplex to Milano: Coppell’s Hannah Bilka Takes the Ice for Team USA

From Dallas Ice Jets to Team USA: Bilka’s Journey to 2026 Olympics started in North Texas

USA's Hannah Bilka looks for an open teammate at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, NY on Saturday, April 13, 2024. / Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The USA Hockey Women’s team features one Texan during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Forward Hannah Bilka will wear No. 23 during and will play forward for head coach John Wroblewski.

Team USA will kick off its Olympics with a game on Thursday, Feb. 5, against Czechia at 9:40 a.m. CST.

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Texas Roots

Bilka is a native of Coppell, Texas, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. According to her USA Hockey bio, she started playing 10U hockey with the Dallas Ice Jets. During her 14U season, she moved to the Hockey Club Dallas; both clubs were based in Coppell .

According to a story done by WFAA TV, she attended Coppell Middle School North and New Tech High School in Coppell as a freshman. She then transferred to Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Fairbault, Minnesota, to play for the hockey program.

She played 16U and 19U for Shattuck-St. Mary’s helping them win the Two Nations and USA Hockey National Championship. She was on the USA Hockey U18 series in 2017 and 2018 and was on the IIHF U18 team in the 2018 World Championship, scoring a goal and two assists in five games.

She helped the USA win the gold medal in Dmitrov, Russia.

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College days

She played four years at Boston College. Bilka was named WHCA National Rookie of the Year, Hockey East Rookie of the Year, to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, the Hockey East Second Team All-Star and US College Hockey Online All-Rookie Team honoree during the 2019-20 season.

During her sophomore season, she was a third-team Hockey East pick, scoring 7 goals and having 9 assists. She had goals in 19 of the Eagles’ 20 games.

Bilka transferred to Ohio State for the 2023-24 season as a graduate player. She won a 2024 National Championship and led the Buckeyes in scoring with 48 points in 39 games.

During her time in college, she played in three International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship (gold- 2023; silver- 2022, 2024)

Ohio State forward Hannah Bilka (9) fist bumps forward Kenzie Hauswirth (11) before the NCAA women's ice hockey game against St. Thomas at the Ohio State Ice Rink. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Pro resume

She was the fourth overall pick in the Professional Women’s Hockey League 2024 draft by the Boston Fleet. The Dallas Stars highlighted her hockey career prior to the draft.

One of the rising stars of @usahockey is forward Hannah Bilka, a 22 year old from Coppell, expected to be one of the top picks of the next @thepwhlofficial draft 👏

A proud product of #TexasHockey, today, we celebrate Hannah's journey for #NGWSD2024!@OhioStateWHKY |… pic.twitter.com/2ljYL3EOem

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 7, 2024

Bilka finished fourth for goals and sixth for assists and points in her rookie season.

This past June, she was drafted by the Seattle Torrent in the PHWL expansion draft.