We’ll find out Tuesday, Feb. 10, if all eight of Bishop Kearney grads advance to the women’s ice hockey quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
The United States, with five Kearney grads, and Czechia, with one, have already secured spots in the quarterfinals out of Group A. Germany, competing in Group B, still controls its path heading into its final preliminary game Tuesday.
The U.S. is in first place in Group A with nine points after beating Switzerland 5-0 on Monday. Czechia currently sits in third place in Group A with four points after losing to Canada 5-1 on Monday.
Goalie Michaela Hesová, a 2024 Kearney grad, helped Czechia get its first points at the Olympics in a 4-3 shootout loss to Switzerland on Friday. Hesová was about 2 minutes away from getting the win when Switzerland’s Lara Christen tied the game at 57:40. After a scoreless overtime, Switzerland converted four times in the shootout to take the extra point.
Hesová also relieved starter Julie Pejsova in Czechia’s final preliminary game after Canada scored three goals on 11 shots in the first 14 minutes. Canada went on to win 5–1. Hesová stopped 20 of 22 shots against one of the tournament’s hottest offenses.
Germany, featuring Kearney grads Nina Christof and Jule Schiefer, is third in Group B with five points. Only three Group B teams advance.
Germany faces second-place Italy (six points) and needs either a win—regulation or overtime—or a loss by Japan (three points) to reach the quarterfinals.
Schiefer and Christof, both forwards, have played limited minutes for Germany and have yet to record a point.
Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 31 years.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: All 8 Kearney grads could make women’s hockey quarterfinals at Olympics
Reporting by Bill Wolcott, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
