Tessa Janecke Headlines Six AHA Women Playing In The 2026 Winter Olympics

From six active players to a coach and an official, AHA Women's Hockey fans will have plenty to follow during the 2026 Winter Olympics

Jan 30, 2026 by Jordan McAlpine

Tessa Janecke Headlines Six AHA Women Playing In The 2026 Winter Olympics

AHA Women’s Hockey fans will have plenty of reason to tune into the 2026 Winter Olympics, as six active AHA players will be competing in Italy.

Three AHA schools will be represented, along with five different countries, including three players from Penn State. In addition to the players on the ice, Syracuse head coach Britni Smith is also an assistant on Hockey Canada’s staff and Robert Morris alum Kirsten Welsh is set to work the women’s tournament as a linesperson.

The opening ceremonies are set for Feb. 6, but the women’s hockey action gets started on Feb. 5 and runs through Feb. 19. This is the 25th rendition of the Winter Olympics.

Here’s a look at each of the AHA’s six Olympians.

Tessa Janecke, Sr., F, Penn State – USA

Janecke has represented the U.S. on the international stage multiple times, but this will be her first time at the Olympics. And she brings quite the decorated resume to the U.S. lineup.

The senior has enjoyed an incredible college career and this season is no different. Janecke has a team-leading 19 goals and 40 points through 26 games, both of which lead all AHA skaters. Her 40 points rank ninth among NCAA players as well, and Janecke continues to lead the way as Penn State’s captain. She’s up to 193 career points in a Nittany Lion sweater.

USA wins #WomensWorlds GOLD!! 🥇🇺🇸

Tessa Janecke is the OT hero! pic.twitter.com/3Xny4bgAtw
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 20, 2025

Nicole Hall, So., F, Penn State – Sweden

Hall has played in all 28 of Penn State’s games and has 17 points (9-8-17). Hall is also a plus-26 for the Nittany Lions. She’ll try to help Sweden – which will join France, Germany, Italy and Japan in Group B – win its third all-time medal. Sweden has bronze in 2002 and silver in 2006.

Matilde Fantin, Fr., F, Penn State – Italy

Fantin has 18 points through 21 games, including eight goals, which ranks 19th among NCAA freshmen. The Italian forward will be representing her country on home soil.

Julia Schalin, So., F, Mercyhurst – Finland

Schalin is tied for second among AHA skaters with 30 points and one of 26 NCAA players with 30 or more points this season. Schalin was named the AHA Rookie of the Year last season and has continued that in year two. She has 10 multi-point games this season. Finland has won four Olympic medals (1998, 2010, 2018, 2022) – all bronze – in women’s hockey.

Lucie Quarto, Jr. D, Lindenwood – France

Quarto has played in 26 games for Lindenwood and already has a career-high five points. The junior has played in 61 career games for the Lions and will now add the Olympics to her resume. France won Bronze in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Elina Zilliox, So., D, Lindenwood – France

Zilliox has played just six games for Lindenwood this winter. She made her season debut on Jan. 2 and has played in each of Lindenwood’s six games since the calendar flip. Zilliox is a plus-5. She skated in 27 games and had two assists in 2024-25.

From AHA to Milano Cortina 🏒

Tessa Janecke 🇺🇸 and Julia Schalin 🇫🇮 are Olympians.#MilanoCortina2026 #WeAre #RollLakers pic.twitter.com/yfYXcCDINV
— Atlantic Hockey America (@Atlantic_Hockey) January 2, 2026

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