BOSTON — Alex Carpenter, assistant captain of the Seattle Torrent, recently played at Boston University’s Agganis Arena for the first time on January 7 during a match against the Boston Fleet. Only days prior, Carpenter was named to the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team for the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, where she will join fellow Seattle teammates Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka, and Cayla Barnes, among 23 players representing Team USA.
Carpenter, a native of Massachusetts and the sole player from the state on the roster, is preparing for her third Olympic appearance, having earned silver medals in both the 2014 and 2022 games. The 2026 games will also highlight the debut of women’s ice hockey players drawn entirely from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), entering its third season.
Family and Early Hockey Roots in Massachusetts
Though currently tied to Seattle professionally, Carpenter’s hockey journey deeply roots in Massachusetts. Her youth included playing with the East Coast Wizards in Bedford and the Valley Junior Warriors in Haverhill. Carpenter’s family life was closely linked to hockey, with her brother Bobo Carpenter playing for Boston University’s Terriers while she competed at Boston College.
My brother and I crossed over two years in college, so I would go watch all of his games and be up in the stands,
Carpenter noted.
So pretty neat to be in a place where my brother played.
Carpenter’s family moved back to North Reading, Massachusetts, when she was 13, after her father’s coaching career with the New Jersey Devils ended. Reflecting on this, she said,
My dad was kind of at the end of his coaching career and wanted us to grow up in Massachusetts, where all of our family is,
highlighting the importance of family ties in shaping her path.
Successful Collegiate Career and Early Achievements
Carpenter’s high school years at Governor’s Academy showcased her scoring talents, with 239 goals and 427 points over 100 games. She continued her hockey career at Boston College, where she won the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award in 2015 as a junior, recognizing her as the top female college hockey player in the United States.
Playing at Boston College was special, playing at Conte Forum,
Carpenter said, Just so many memories there.
Professional Play and International Experience
After college, Carpenter spent several years playing professionally overseas in China and Russia. She spent a year with the Boston Pride in the now-defunct Premier Hockey Federation before joining the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association and then moving to the PWHL for its inaugural season.
Carpenter noted the difference the PWHL makes in year-round player development, saying,
Just having that consistency of the season and those resources are really important. Having this league right now, and everybody will be at their absolute best, I think just playing year-round and in really good shape,
emphasizing the league’s role in elevating play for the Olympics.
Team USA Dynamics and Olympic Preparation
Carpenter will enter the 2026 Olympics with a roster that includes a blend of veterans and talented newcomers, many of whom play together in the PWHL. The familiarity with teammates is vital, as she explained:
Playing with familiar players, like I get to play with Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes, so having that familiarity with players is really important.
She also highlighted the unique dynamic of competing against these players in league matches yet uniting with them in international play, particularly during the Rivalry Series against Canada, stating,
We’re lucky that we get to play with each other in the Rivalry Series in November and December,
and added,
So definitely keeping that consistency with them, but definitely, really neat. You go from rivals one minute to playing on the same team and going for the same goal the next.
Team USA recently dominated the Rivalry Series, outscoring Canada 24-7 in a four-game stretch. Carpenter emphasized that this momentum must continue into the Olympics, saying,
Just continue with what we’re doing with our program.
She added,
I think we have a great team of veterans and young players coming in, and they mesh really well. I think we’ll just take it day by day.
Looking Ahead to Milano Cortina and Olympic Opening Matches
The U.S. women’s ice hockey team will begin their Olympic campaign on February 5 against Czechia in the preliminary round. Group A also includes Finland, Switzerland, and Canada, the latter of which Team USA will face again on February 10. Carpenter’s experience, combined with the evolving structure of women’s hockey through the PWHL, positions Team USA as a strong contender for gold.
As Carpenter prepares to skate on the Olympic ice once again, her journey reflects a blend of personal history, professional growth, and collective ambition, all aligning toward the goal of achieving Olympic gold in Milano Cortina.
