Janecke, Hall and Fantin will rejoin No. 4 Penn State women’s ice hockey for its postseason run starting with the AHA Semifinals at Pegula Ice Arena. Game one is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start on February 27 while game two is slated for a 3 p.m. puck drop on February 28. If necessary, game three will begin at 3 p.m. on March 1.
MILAN – No. 4 women’s ice hockey’s Tessa Janecke became an Olympic gold medalist as the United States downed Canada, 2-1, in overtime at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday. The Penn State senior captain totaled five assists in the red, white and blue.
In addition to Janecke, sophomore forward Nicole Hall and former Nittany Lion Jessica Adolfsson earned fourth place with Sweden, while freshman forward Matilde Fantin played for host country Italy.
TESSA TAKES GOLD IN THE STARS AND STRIPES
Janecke’s five assists in the Olympics tied her for fourth on the team and tied for sixth overall among all women’s ice hockey players in Milan. She recorded two apples in Team USA’s 5-1 Olympic-opening victory over Czechia on February 5. Additionally, Janecke recorded assists in three consecutive wins against Italy, Sweden and Canada.
Janecke and Team USA completed one of the most impressive runs in Olympic ice hockey history as the team outscored its opponents 33-2 at the event with Janecke centering the fourth line for the undefeated squad. It was the third time Team USA earned gold since women’s ice hockey became an Olympic event in 1998.
The Orangeville, Illinois native is no stranger to hockey on a global scale as she scored an overtime game-winning goal against Canada to win gold for the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championships.
NICOLE AND JESS DON THE THREE CROWNS
Hall and Adolfsson helped Sweden advance to the bronze medal game on Thursday. Sweden ultimately fell in overtime to Switzerland, but the fourth-place finish still tied for the country’s third best result at the Olympics.
Hall, a native of Stockholm, played 15 games with the Swedish senior national team along with 38 games in U18, including being named captain for 2021-22 U18 World Championships prior to making her Olympic debut.
Adolfsson potted a first period goal in a 6-1 win over Italy on February 7. Adolfsson hails from Linkoping and competed in her second Olympics wearing the three crowns.
MATI REPS HOST ITALY
Matilde Fantin led Italy with three goals in five Olympic games. The Como native was one of just 16 women to score three or more goals during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
All of Fantin’s goals came in both of Italy’s victories at the competition that helped propel them to the Play-off Round. She potted one in the team’s 4-1 win over France on February 5 to open the tournament then scored twice in a 3-2 triumph over Japan on February 9.
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