In a league overflowing with elite talent, roles can shift within PWHL teams and any player can shine on any given day. At the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, a number of European PWHL players embraced expanded responsibilities for their national teams and delivered defining performances on the sport’s biggest stage.
From goal scorers who lit up international score sheets to defenders and netminders anchoring their countries’ hopes, these athletes showcased the versatility, leadership and world-class skill that has become synonymous with the PWHL. Their Olympic performances weren’t surprises, but instead reminders of just how deep the league’s talent pool runs. Certainly, fans know about the PWHL’s leading goalscorer, Kristýna Kaltounková of Czechia and the New York Sirens, and the Boston Fleet and Team Switzerland’s Alina Müller got plenty of deserved hype for her goal-scoring exploits. This piece is for some of the other stars of the Games...
Laura Kluge (Germany, Boston Fleet)
The impact of a player like Kluge (pictured above) isn’t always reflected on the scoresheet as she makes waves on the first-place Boston Fleet this season. Often deployed in a depth role, she’s been trusted in responsible minutes and matchup situations on a roster filled with high-end offensive talent. But at Milano Cortina, Kluge (pictured above) was a revelation.
Kluge finished the Olympic tournament with seven points (3G, 4A) in five games, leading all skaters after the preliminary round and finishing top-five at the tournament’s conclusion, establishing herself as one of the most productive Europeans at the Games. Her points per game (1.4 PPG) ranked near the top of all Olympians as she became Germany’s go-to offensive weapon.
Now Kluge is ready to push the Fleet towards their first-ever Walter Cup.
Sara Hjalmarsson (Sweden, Toronto Sceptres)
Over the pre-Olympic portion of the 2025–26 PWHL season, Hjalmarsson filled a steady depth role with the Toronto Sceptres, providing reliable minutes on a roster rich with offensive talent.
Playing for Sweden at the Olympics, Hjalmarsson became an offensive catalyst, tallying five points (2G, 3A) in seven games for her country, placing her among the tournament’s most prolific scorers and underscoring her ability to make impact plays on the international stage. Her effort helped power Sweden into the bronze medal game from Group B, a significant step for a program continuing to push toward the world’s elite.
Perhaps not coincidentally, in the Sceptres’ first game after the Olympic break, “Hammer” scored her first-ever PWHL goal...and got a second in their second game back!
Natálie Mlýnková (Czechia, Montréal Victoire)
Mlýnková had shown some flashes for the pre-Olympics Victoire, posting six points (4G, 2A) in 15 games. At Milano Cortina 2026, however, the rookie forward exploded. She finished with four points (3G, 1A) in five games, becoming the first Czech woman to score three goals in a single Olympic tournament. Her four points put her in the top tier of scoring among Europe’s Olympic participants, and her four career Olympic goals are the most in Czechia history.
Mlýnková’s historic performances for Czechia—a nation that now has two Olympic appearances and still building its identity in elite women’s hockey—highlighted her abilities and give reason to expect a big second half out of her on one of the top teams in the league.
Sandra Abstreiter (Germany, Montréal Victoire)
Mlýnková’s teammate in Montréal, Abstreiter’s pre-Olympic club season was limited—no shock considering she’s the backup to the PWHL’s reigning Goaltender of the Year, Ann-Renée Desbiens.
At Milano-Cortina, however, Abstreiter was Germany’s unquestioned starter. She played all five Olympic games for her country, facing 140 shots and posting a .907 save percentage.
The Olympics demanded durability and composure, and Abstreiter answered, stepping fully into a starter’s mantle on the international stage. She’s also picked up that form back in North America, getting her third start of the PWHL season on March 3 at Toronto and earning the win in a 4-3 shootout victory.
Kristin Della Rovere (Italy, Toronto Sceptres)
For Italy, competing on home ice at Milano Cortina, Della Rovere was part of a core group tasked with carrying the program forward on its biggest stage.
Della Rovere delivered a breakout performance in Milan, leading Italy with four points (2G, 2A) in five games—a key piece in carrying Italy into the quarterfinals out of Group B. The 5’ 9” reserve forward for Toronto played in all situations and emerged as one of the faces of Italy’s tournament, drawing attention for both her offensive production and composure in high-pressure moments.
After Della Rovere’s Olympic performance it’s safe to say she will make an impact on PWHL ice before long.
Nina Jobst-Smith (Germany, Vancouver Goldeneyes)
Jobst-Smith’s 2025-26 PWHL season with the Goldeneyes has been shaped in part by circumstance. An early injury delayed her start, and as the season continues, she has been working her way back into the lineup and rhythm of club play.
At the Olympics, a healthy Jobst-Smith stepped into a far more prominent spotlight for Germany. She recorded three points (2G, 1A) in five games at Milano-Cortina, production that stands out for a defender whose PWHL role is not built around offense. Most notably, she delivered one of Germany’s defining moments of the tournament: the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory over France, a goal that secured a critical result and underscored her ability to rise in high-leverage situations. Jobst-Smith also made history at Milano Cortina 2026, becoming the first German defender to score two goals in a single Olympic tournament for the women’s team—a sign of what’s to come for the PWHL rookie.
Whether it’s Kluge’s breakout scoring, Mlýnková’s historic goal run, Della Rovere’s offensive leadership, or defenders like Jobst-Smith finding the scoresheet, these athletes seized the expanded roles national teams afforded them.
The context of international competition, different line structures, more offensive freedom, and greater reliance on veteran European talent can unlock renewed confidence and performances that aren’t always visible in the weekly rhythm of the PWHL. As the league continues to grow, that dynamic will deepen, further elevating the global women’s game and highlighting stories of players who shine brightest when the moment arrives.
