Olivia Knowles Bio
Olivia Knowles is a Canadian professional ice hockey player born on January 24, 1999, in Campbell River, British Columbia. She plays defence for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and is known for her steady two-way play, blocked-shot reliability, and leadership at every level she has competed. A former co-captain at the University of Minnesota, Knowles turned professional in 2022 and has built a reputation as a dependable defenceman who can log heavy minutes in all situations.
Early Life and Background
Knowles was raised in Campbell River, British Columbia, by her parents, Darrell and Jonelle Knowles, and grew up alongside a sibling named Jaret. She has a cousin, Lisa Lloyd, who played ice hockey at the University of Alberta, giving the family deep roots in the game. A multi-sport athlete from a young age, Knowles competed in gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field, swimming, basketball, volleyball, cross country, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and tennis, a background that helped shape her balance, coordination, and overall athleticism on the ice.
She attended Penticton Secondary in Penticton, BC, graduating in 2017, and developed her hockey skills at the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) under coaches Jim Fetter and Delaney Collins. She was recognized as a Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) First Team All-Star and earned the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) Best Defence and OHA Female Prep Best Defence awards in 2016. In 2017, she served as team captain and led OHA to the CSSHL championship, recording 30 points in 42 games.
Path to Hockey
Knowles’ route to top-level hockey ran through OHA, where she captained her team to a CSSHL title and built the defensive foundation that would define her career. Her standout play earned her a scholarship to the University of Minnesota, one of the premier NCAA women’s ice hockey programs, where she would spend five seasons refining her game against elite competition. She also represented Canada at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship in 2016 and 2017, helping the team earn silver medals both years and serving as assistant captain in 2016, experiences that prepared her for the demands of professional play.
Olivia Knowles Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Olivia Knowles played five seasons at the University of Minnesota from 2017 to 2022, emerging as one of the most reliable defencemen in the program. In her freshman year of 2017–18, she appeared in all 38 games, recording seven goals and 13 assists while ranking second on the team with 62 blocked shots and fourth with a +16 plus/minus rating, earning spots on the WCHA All-Rookie Team and the All-USCHO Rookie Team.
Across her sophomore, junior, senior, and fifth-year seasons, she continued to log heavy minutes and accumulate academic and athletic honours, including WCHA Defender of the Week, AHCA All-American Scholar, and multiple Academic All-Big Ten recognitions. By her fifth year in 2021–22, she served as team co-captain, set a program record for games played with 168, led the team with 76 blocked shots, and posted a career-high 16 assists, completing her college career as a respected leader and two-way defenceman.
Minnesota Whitecaps Era (2022–2023)
Following her final college season, Knowles signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation in 2022. She joined a competitive roster and quickly contributed on the back end, finishing the year with one assist and five blocked shots during the team’s playoff run. The Whitecaps advanced to the Isobel Cup finals that season, where they ultimately fell to the Toronto Six, giving Knowles valuable experience in a championship-level series.
PWHL Toronto Era (2023–2024)
Knowles was selected in the 15th round, 86th overall, by PWHL Toronto in the 2023 PWHL Draft, transitioning to the new Professional Women’s Hockey League for its inaugural campaign. During the 2023–24 PWHL season, she played a regular defensive role for Toronto and helped the team secure a spot in the PWHL playoffs by beating PWHL Montreal 3–2 in April, contributing to one of the league’s most competitive first-year stretches.
New York Sirens Era (2024–Present)
After beginning the 2024–25 season on Toronto’s reserve roster, Knowles was signed by the New York Sirens on December 6, 2024, when Ella Shelton was placed on injured reserve. She joined a New York team looking to build defensive depth and quickly integrated into the lineup, offering a left-shot, shot-blocking presence on the back end. Her move to the Sirens marked a fresh chapter in her professional career and a chance to play a larger role in the team’s daily rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Knowles is widely regarded as a defensive-first blueliner whose strengths include shot blocking, positional play, and penalty killing. Her years of captaincy at Minnesota translated into strong communication and poise under pressure, while her plus/minus numbers and blocked-shot totals reflect a defenceman who consistently tilts the ice in her team’s favour. Pairing her steady defensive play with the offensive instincts she displayed in college, where she posted career highs in assists during her final season, makes her a balanced modern defenceman.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Knowles’ signature moments are her captaincy of the OHA team to a 2017 CSSHL championship, her role in Minnesota’s run to the NCAA Frozen Four, and her appearance in the Isobel Cup finals with the Minnesota Whitecaps in her first professional season. She also represented Canada at two IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships, earning silver medals in 2016 and 2017, and set the Minnesota program record for games played during her five-year college career.
Olivia Knowles Career Wins
Olivia Knowles has built a winning résumé across youth, collegiate, and professional hockey. Her career victories include a CSSHL championship with the Okanagan Hockey Academy in 2017, a pair of IIHF World Women’s U18 silver medals with Canada in 2016 and 2017, and an Isobel Cup finals appearance with the Minnesota Whitecaps in 2022. She has also been part of multiple playoff pushes, including Minnesota’s NCAA Frozen Four run and PWHL Toronto’s 2024 playoff-clinching win over Montreal.
Minnesota Highlights
At the University of Minnesota, Knowles played in 168 career games, the most in program history at the time of her graduation, and finished as the team’s leader in blocked shots during her final season. She helped the Gophers reach the NCAA Frozen Four and earned All-Rookie, All-Academic, and Scholar-Athlete honours across her five years. Her leadership as co-captain in her final season capped one of the most distinguished college careers of any Minnesota defenceman in recent memory.
Other Wins & Performances
At the junior level, Knowles captained OHA to the 2017 CSSHL championship and was named a JWHL First Team All-Star, establishing herself as one of the top defencemen in her age group. Internationally, she helped Canada capture silver medals at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships, including serving as assistant captain during the 2016 tournament. These youth and junior achievements laid the foundation for her successful transition to NCAA and professional hockey.
Olivia Knowles Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Knowles was born to Darrell and Jonelle Knowles and grew up in Campbell River, British Columbia, with a sibling named Jaret. Her cousin, Lisa Lloyd, played ice hockey at the University of Alberta, making hockey a long-standing family tradition. This family connection to the sport helped shape her early development and reinforced her commitment to the game throughout her youth and collegiate career.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Knowles holds degrees in sport management and journalism from the University of Minnesota, reflecting her interest in the broader sports industry beyond playing. She is a fan of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. She remains active on social media and continues to represent her Canadian roots while pursuing her professional career in the PWHL.
2025 Season Performance
Olivia Knowles entered the 2025 portion of the 2024–25 PWHL season with the New York Sirens after being signed on December 6, 2024, giving her a meaningful stretch run with her new club. Her arrival added defensive depth and shot-blocking reliability to a Sirens team aiming to climb the PWHL standings, and she was expected to play a regular role on the back end. The midseason move offered her a fresh opportunity to establish herself within the New York lineup.
As the 2025 season progresses, Knowles’ combination of college leadership experience and Isobel Cup finals poise makes her a stabilizing presence for the Sirens’ defensive corps. Her familiarity with high-pressure games, built through NCAA tournament runs and the Isobel Cup finals, should help New York navigate the second half of the schedule. Continued growth in her ice time and special-teams usage will likely define her impact for the remainder of the year.