Hannah Bilka

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Hannah Bilka
Hannah Bilka 2025.jpg
Bilka with the Seattle Torrent in 2025
Born (2001-03-24) March 24, 2001 (age 24)
Coppell, Texas, U.S.
Height 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight 130 lb (59 kg; 9 st 4 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
PWHL team
Former teams		 Seattle Torrent
Boston Fleet
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Playing career 2019–present
Medal record
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Denmark
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2024 United States
World U18 Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2018 Russia
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Japan

Hannah Bilka (born March 24, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. [1] A native of Coppell, Texas, Bilka overcame the challenges of growing up in a non-traditional hockey market to become one of the top players in women's hockey. [2] Bilka played college ice hockey at Boston College for four seasons (2019–2023), where she was named the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year in 2020. [3] She transferred to Ohio State for her graduate season in 2023–24, where she led the team in scoring and helped the Buckeyes win the 2024 NCAA National Championship. [4]

Contents

Internationally, Bilka has represented the United States at multiple levels. She won gold and silver medals at the IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in 2018 and 2019, respectively. [5] At the senior level, she has competed in three IIHF Women's World Championships, winning gold in 2023 and silver medals in 2022 and 2024. [6]

Bilka was drafted fourth overall by PWHL Boston in the 2024 PWHL draft and signed a three-year contract with the team. [7] After one season with Boston, she was selected third overall by the Seattle Torrent in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, reuniting her with former Boston teammate and U.S. national team captain Hilary Knight. [1]

Early life and education

Bilka was born and raised in Coppell, Texas, to parents Dan and Patricia Bilka. She has three siblings: Christina, Stephanie, and Anthony. [8] Bilka was inspired to play hockey by watching her older brother Anthony, who played Division III college hockey. [2] She became passionate about hockey after watching the 2010 Winter Olympics. [2]

Growing up in Texas, a non-traditional hockey market, Bilka faced significant challenges in pursuing the sport. Due to limited opportunities for girls' hockey in the area, she played on boys' teams alongside fellow Texas native Ally Simpson. [2] Bilka had to be proactive in her college recruitment, emailing coaches directly since scouts were unfamiliar with players competing in boys' tournaments in smaller hockey markets. [2] At age 14, she left home to attend Shattuck-St. Mary's, a boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, known for its elite hockey program. [2] While at Shattuck-St. Mary's, she also played lacrosse and ultimate frisbee. [9] She helped lead the Sabres to a Tier 1 U19 national championship in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019. [9]

Bilka majored in communications at Boston College, where she was named to the National Honor Society and received The Hennessy Family Scholarship Fund and The Lombardi Family Scholarship Fund in Memory of Joseph J. Lombardi. [8] During her time at Boston College, she worked as a statistician for the Boston College athletic communications office. [8] She later pursued a master's degree in sport management at Ohio State University. [9]

Playing career

College

Bilka began her collegiate career for Boston College during the 2019–20 season. [10] During her freshman year, she recorded 14 goals and 23 assists in 34 games. She led the team in points with 37, and led all rookies in the country in total points per game (1.13), assists per game (0.71) and shots on goal per game (4.06) during the regular season and tied for first in shots on goal (126). her 30 points in Hockey East play marked the ninth-highest total by a first-year player in league history. Following an outstanding season, she was named to the Hockey East Second Team, a unanimous selection to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and the USCHO All-Rookie Team. [11] She was also awarded the Hockey East Rookie of the Year and the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year. [12] [13]

During the 2020–21 season in her sophomore year, she recorded seven goals and nine assists in 19 games, in a season that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She ranked third on the team in scoring with 16 points and was subsequently named to the Hockey East Third Team. [14] During the 2021–22 season in her junior year, she recorded 16 goals and 17 assists in 34 games. She ranked second on the team in points with 33 and led the team with a career-best plus-18 rating. [10] Following the season, she was named to the Hockey East First Team, and New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star. [15] [16]

On August 19, 2022, Bilka was named a captain of the Eagles for the 2022–23 season. [17] During her senior year, she recorded 12 goals and 29 assists in 34 games. She finished tied for fourth overall in conference scoring with 32 points, and 1.28 points per game. Her 24 assists in conference games tied for second most in the league. Following the season she was named a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star. [18]

On March 25, 2023, Bilka announced she was transferring to Ohio State for the 2023–24 season. [19] During her graduate transfer year she led the team in points with 22 goals and 26 assists in 39 games. During the 2024 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament she assisted on the game-winning goal to help lead the Buckeyes to the national championship. [20] [21]

Professional

PWHL Boston (2024–25)

On June 10, 2024, Bilka was drafted fourth overall by PWHL Boston in the 2024 PWHL draft. [6] On July 9, 2024, she signed a three-year contract with Boston. [7] During the 2024–25 season, she recorded five goals and six assists in 16 games before suffering an injury during the rivalry series. [22] Despite the shortened season due to injury, she demonstrated her offensive capabilities and was recognized as one of the team's key rookies. On January 5, 2025, during the PWHL's Takeover Tour game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, she recorded a goal and an assist in a game against the Montréal Victoire, which proved significant as it foreshadowed her eventual move to the city. [23]

On February 12, 2025, Bilka was placed on long-term injured reserve, ending her rookie season with Boston. [22] Her injury kept her off the U.S. roster for the World Championships that year. [24]

Seattle Torrent (2025–present)

On June 9, 2025, Bilka was drafted third overall by the Seattle Torrent in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft. [1] The selection reunited her with former Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight and marked a significant moment for the expansion franchise. [25] Seattle general manager Meghan Turner, who had served as assistant general manager in Boston during Bilka's rookie season, was familiar with her playing style and potential. [26] Bilka was among seven players selected by Seattle in the expansion draft, joining a roster that included established stars such as Knight, Alex Carpenter, and Cayla Barnes. [1] The team's construction emphasized both veteran leadership and young talent, with Bilka positioned as a key piece of the franchise's future. [27]

Bilka made her Seattle Torrent debut on November 21, 2025, in the team's historic first game against the Vancouver Goldeneyes at Pacific Coliseum. [28] In the game, which Vancouver won 4–3 in overtime, she scored a goal late in the third period with just over six minutes remaining. The goal extended her scoring streak, giving her five points in her last six games dating back to the previous season. [28] On November 28, 2025, the Torrent played their inaugural home opener at Climate Pledge Arena against the Minnesota Frost. [29] The game drew a record-breaking crowd of 16,014 fans, setting a new attendance record for a professional women's hockey game in the United States. [30]

Bilka recorded her first multi-point game as a Torrent player on December 3, 2025, when she assisted on both power-play goals in a 2–1 comeback victory over the New York Sirens in the last 90 seconds of the game. [23] The assists, which came on goals by Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight in the final 22 seconds of the third period, marked the first multi-assist performance of her professional career. [23] The victory was Seattle's first-ever home win and marked the first Torrent goal scored at Climate Pledge Arena in franchise history. [31] As of early December 2025, Bilka is tied for the team lead in points. [32] Throughout the early portion of Seattle's inaugural season, Bilka has been deployed on the top line alongside Knight and Carpenter, forming what analysts have described as a potential Olympic-caliber trio. [24] Her lightning-quick skating ability and creative offensive instincts complement the veteran stars' playmaking abilities. [27]

International play

Junior

Bilka represented the United States under-18 team at the 2018 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in Dmitrov, Russia, where she recorded one goal and two assists in five games and won a gold medal. [5] She again represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, where she recorded one goal and two assists in five games and won a silver medal. [33] [6]

Senior

On August 14, 2022, Bilka was named to the roster for the United States at the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship in Herning, Denmark. [34] [35] The tournament marked her first senior IIHF Women's World Championship appearance. During the tournament, she was paired on the first line with veteran Hilary Knight, fulfilling a dream for Bilka, who had met Knight as a 14-year-old at a 2014 select camp. [36] She finished the tournament with five goals and seven assists in seven games, helping the United States win a silver medal. She ranked third overall in scoring with 12 points. [37] Her performance established her as one of the tournament's top players despite being in her first senior international competition. [38]

Bilka was selected to represent the United States at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship in Brampton, Ontario. [39] During the tournament, she recorded four goals and three assists and was one of only two American players to score in every game of the tournament, maintaining a point streak throughout. [40] [41] The United States defeated Canada 6–3 in the gold medal game to win the country's first gold medal since 2019 and 10th overall. [42] Bilka played a key role in the team's success, contributing alongside fellow Ohio State signee Cayla Barnes and helping the United States reclaim the world championship. [42]

Bilka returned to the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, New York, as one of 18 returning players from the gold medal-winning 2023 squad. [43] During the tournament, she was utilized on a line with Abbey Murphy and Tessa Janecke, a combination that proved effective in the knockout stages. [44] In the semifinal game against Finland, she scored the opening goal 12:01 into the contest, gathering a rebound off an Abbey Murphy shot to help the United States to a 5–0 victory and advance to the gold medal game. [45] The United States lost to Canada 6–5 in overtime in the gold medal game, earning a silver medal and extending Team USA's streak to 23 consecutive medals at the Women's World Championship. [46]

Bilka was named to the U.S. roster for the opening three games of the 2024–25 Rivalry Series in November 2024, as one of 24 returning players from the 2024 World Championship team. [47] In the opening game on November 6, 2024, in San Jose, California, she scored on a power play in the second period, capping off a series of six passes with assists from Alex Carpenter and Laila Edwards, as the United States defeated Canada 7–2. [38] The victory marked Team USA's largest margin of victory in Rivalry Series history. She was also selected for the February 2025 leg of the Rivalry Series, joining 17 returning players from the November roster. [48] In Game 4 on February 6, 2025, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she scored in the shootout to help the United States defeat Canada 2–1 and even the series at 2–2. [49] However, Bilka was injured during the series and missed time in the final games. [50]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2019–20 Boston College HE 3414233712—————
2020–21 Boston CollegeHE1979162—————
2021–22 Boston CollegeHE3416173326—————
2022–23 Boston CollegeHE3412294114—————
2023–24 Ohio State University WCHA 3922264822—————
2024–25 Boston Fleet PWHL 1656116—————
PWHL totals1656116—————

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2018 United States U18 Gold medal icon.svg51230
2019 United StatesU18Silver medal icon.svg51230
2022 United States WC Silver medal icon.svg757124
2023 United StatesWCGold medal icon.svg74372
2024 United StatesWCSilver medal icon.svg71344
Junior totals102680
Senior totals2110132310

Awards and honors

HonorsYear
College
HCA National Rookie of the Year 2020 [3]
Hockey East Rookie of the Year2020 [3]
USCHO.com All-Rookie Team2020 [51]
Hockey East All-Rookie Team2020 [3]
All-Hockey East Second Team2020 [3]
All-Hockey East Third Team 2021 [52]
All-Hockey East First Team 2022 [53]
New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star2022 [54]
All-Hockey East Second Team 2023 [55]
NCAA National Championship 2024 [4]

Other work

Bilka has remained committed to growing girls' hockey in Texas, returning in the summers to work with youth programs and camps. [2] She has expressed pride in the development of girls' hockey organizations in the Dallas area, noting the significant growth since her youth, which now allows young girls to stay home rather than relocating to pursue elite hockey opportunities. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "PWHL Seattle Completes Expansion Draft". PWHL. June 9, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "From Texas With Love: Hannah Bilka's Path to the PWHL". The Ice Garden. November 1, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hannah Bilka Named National Rookie of the Year". Boston College Athletics. April 3, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Newland, Jason (March 24, 2024). "Ohio State Women's Hockey Team Beats Wisconsin To Win National Championship". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Hannah Bilka Bio". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Benwell, Cee (June 10, 2024). "Hannah Bilka Selected 4th Overall By Boston". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Kennedy, Ian (July 9, 2024). "Fourth Overall Pick Hannah Bilka Signs Three-Year Deal With PWHL Boston". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Hannah Bilka Bio". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Hannah Bilka". Ohio State Athletics. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Hannah Bilka Bio". bceagles.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Hannah Bilka Named to USCHO All-Rookie Team". bceagles.com. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  12. ↑ Healy, Emma (April 5, 2020). "Hannah Bilka Earns National Rookie of the Year Honors". The Heights . Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Boston College freshman Bilka takes home national rookie of the year honors". uscho.com. April 3, 2020. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Hockey East Names 2020-21 Women's All-Star Teams". hockeyeastonline.com. February 27, 2021. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Hockey East Names 2021-22 Women's All-Star Teams". hockeyeastonline.com. February 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Bilka Named New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star". bceagles.com. April 26, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Eagles Announce 2022-23 Captains". bceagles.com. August 19, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Quartet of Eagles Earn Hockey East All-Star Honors". bceagles.com. February 24, 2023. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Ohio State Signs Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka for 2023-24 Season". ohiostatebuckeyes.com. March 25, 2023. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  20. ↑ Newland, Jason (March 24, 2024). "Ohio State Women's Hockey Team Beats Wisconsin To Win National Championship". The Hockey News . Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  21. ↑ Ryan, Conor (June 11, 2024). "PWHL Boston's 2024 Draft class headlined by former Boston College star". Boston.com . Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Kennedy, Ian (February 12, 2025). "Bilka Placed On Long-Term Injured Reserve, Fleet Sign Jillian Dempsey". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 "Seattle Scores Two Late Goals Against New York to Record First-Ever Home Win". PWHL. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Seattle Torrent 2025-26 PWHL preview: A superstar core offers immediate hope". Yahoo Sports. November 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Seattle reunites Bilka with Knight in PWHL expansion draft". King5.com. June 9, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  26. ↑ "PWHL Seattle roster reaches 12 after expansion draft". FOX 13 Seattle. June 10, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Seattle Torrent 2025-26 Season Preview". PWHL. November 17, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  28. 1 2 "Vancouver Goldeneyes Notch Overtime Win Over Seattle Torrent on Historic Night". PWHL. November 21, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Seattle Torrent Announce 2025-26 Roster". PWHL. November 20, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  30. ↑ Kulesa, Anna (December 3, 2025). "PWHL notebook: Seattle expansion team sets U.S. attendance record". NHL.com. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Seattle Scores Two Late Goals against New York to Record First-Ever Home Win". OurSports Central. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Seattle Torrent earn franchise's first win with late rally". Union-Bulletin (Seattle Times Sports). December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Hannah Bilka". USA Hockey. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  34. ↑ "U.S. Roster Announced for 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship". USA Hockey. August 14, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Four Eagles Named to U.S. Roster for World Championships". Boston College Athletics. August 14, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Bilka's dream comes true". IIHF. August 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Hannah Bilka Named to USCHO All-Rookie Team". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  38. 1 2 "U.S. Opens Rivalry Series, Presented by Discover, with 7-2 Victory Over Canada". USA Hockey. November 7, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Six Buckeyes to Play at 2023 Women's World Championships". Ohio State Athletics. April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Team USA Advances to Sunday's Gold-Medal Game of Women's World Championship". USA Hockey. April 15, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  41. ↑ "U.S. to play for gold". IIHF. April 15, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  42. 1 2 "Barnes, Bilka Win Gold at 2023 World Championships". Ohio State Athletics. April 17, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  43. ↑ "2024 U.S. Women's National Team Roster Announced". USA Hockey. March 31, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  44. ↑ "2024 IIHF Women's World Championship: Placement and Semifinals". Victory Press. April 16, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  45. ↑ "U.S. Advances to Gold-Medal Game of Women's World Championship". USA Hockey. April 13, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  46. ↑ "2024 IIHF Women's World Championship". USA Hockey. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Team USA Roster Announced For November Rivalry Series". USA Hockey. October 2, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  48. ↑ "U.S. Roster Set For February Rivalry Series". USA Hockey. January 24, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Team USA Takes Rivalry Series Game Four, 2-1". USA Hockey. February 7, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  50. ↑ Staff, Victory Press (February 9, 2025). "Five Things We Learned From The 2024-25 Rivalry Series". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Boston College freshman Bilka takes home national rookie of the year honors". USCHO.com. April 3, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Hockey East Names 2020-21 Women's All-Star Teams". Hockey East. February 27, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  53. ↑ "Hockey East Names 2021-22 Women's All-Star Teams". Hockey East. February 25, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Bilka Named New England Hockey Writers Association All-Star". Boston College Athletics. April 26, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  55. ↑ "Quartet of Eagles Earn Hockey East All-Star Honors". Boston College Athletics. February 24, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
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