Tiger Hockey Stars to Play for Canada in Milan Cortina Olympics

Sarah Fillier ’24 and Claire Thompson ’20 are among the Princeton alumni to watch at the winter games

Claire Thompson ’20, right, snaps a photo of Canada teammate Sarah Fillier ’24 at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

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By Brett Tomlinson

Published Feb. 5, 2026

1 min read

Canadian women’s hockey players Sarah Fillier ’24 and Claire Thompson ’20 will begin the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina on Saturday, two days after their scheduled debut was pushed back because of a norovirus outbreak on the Finland team. Canada faces Switzerland at 3:10 p.m. Eastern.

Thompson, who plays for the PWHL’s Vancouver Goldeneyes, was selected as an All-Star in the 2022 Olympics, where she helped Canada win gold and set a record for most goals by a defenseman (13, with 11 coming from assists). Fillier, a forward for the PWHL’s New York Sirens, also had a starring role in 2022, scoring eight goals in the tournament (second most on the team).

This is the first Olympic tournament since the PWHL’s foundation, and Thompson told Reuters it should help because “all players are able to play the highest level of hockey leading into the games.”

Also on the ice in Milan Cortina will be Kelly Cooke ’13, a former Princeton forward, Boston-based lawyer, and one of the top referees in women’s hockey. “Officiating provides a sense of balance and an outlet from my career as a corporate attorney,” Cooke said in an interview with Massachusetts Hockey. “It has taught me time-management and conflict resolution, both of which help personally and professionally.”

Longtime sled hockey star Declan Farmer ’20 is slated to lead the United States men’s team at the Paralympics March 7-15. He has won three straight gold medals in the event, dating back to the 2014 Sochi Paralympics when he was just 16 years old.

U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim ’23, who was already a world champion before starting college and left her studies to continue competing, is aiming for a third consecutive gold in the women’s halfpipe. She dislocated her shoulder in early January but expects to be ready when her event kicks off Feb. 11, according to BBC Sport.

The injury news was not as promising for U.S. bobsledding athlete Charlie Volker ’19, a former Princeton football running back and 2022 Olympian. After sustaining a concussion in training, Volker was forced to medically retire in early January, before team selection was completed.