Top five women’s players in the Olympics

These Olympics put women’s hockey on a level that it’s never seen before, with the gold medal Match reaching a peak of 7.7 million viewers. Now that the games are over, though, it’s time to decide which players had their best games in Milan.

5. Marie-Philip Poulin

Marie-Philip Poulin might not have gotten the storybook ending she wanted for her Olympic journey, but it would be impossible to discount the impact she had in the games she played.

Her absence in Canada's 5-0 shutout loss to the United States was made painfully obvious by the Canadians' lack of cohesion on the ice.

Poulin might be nearing the end of her career, but she showed in these Olympics that she can still fight back from a rough hit and give the gold medal-winning United States team a run for their money.

4. Alina Müller

Muller played incredibly at these Olympics; she just didn’t get the same credit because Switzerland wasn’t playing in the gold medal match.

She tied for most goals scored at the Olympics and did so with less help than the other leaders. As one of the best players in the world and the first European player to be drafted into the PWHL, she has made her mark on women’s hockey, and the bronze medal she picked up doesn’t hurt at all.

Muller should return to the Boston Fleet proud of her Olympic performance, which stood out among the United States and Canadian juggernauts.

3. Hilary Knight

Everyone knew that Hilary Knight would have a solid showing at these Olympics, given that these were likely her last games, but she showed exactly why she’s nicknamed Captain America in the gold medal match.

With 2:04 left in the third period, Hilary Knight made the most important play of the entire Olympics when she sent a game that looked like it was a lost cause to overtime. She scored her fifteenth Olympic goal, which puts her at the top of the all-time leaderboard.

Knight made her mark on this Olympic team with her leadership and skill in a way that no other player was able to do in these Olympics, both on the ice and off it.

2. Megan Keller

Keller is the reason the United States went home with the gold medal; her agility and stick skills are among the best that women’s hockey has to offer.

She went toe-to-toe with one of the best goaltenders in the Olympics, Canada’s Anne-Renée Desbiens and beat her in her own crease. Keller created the highlight reel moment of the Olympics when she put the United States on her back in overtime and decided it was time for the Olympic gold to be hers.

Keller is one of the veterans of this team that we will likely see again in 2030, but her impact on these Olympics will never be forgotten.

1. Caroline Harvey

As the MVP of the tournament with 9 points before she’s even played a professional hockey game, it would be hard to argue with anyone that Caroline Harvey wasn’t the best female player at these Olympics.

At the age of 23, Harvey was not only the best player at these Olympics but is likely to be the best player in at least the next three Olympics.

Her defensive intensity and playmaking ability make her stand out to anyone watching the game. For such a young player to already possess the skills that she does and for a team like the United States to trust her as much as they did is practically unheard of.

Harvey will return to collegiate hockey this year, but she is going to be one of the players who will bring so many eyes to women’s hockey and soon the PWHL.

Gwen Evans is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email gme5218@psu.edu