We are so proud and excited to share the news that OHS 2022 graduate, and current Penn State senior, Tessa Janecke has been named to the USA Womens Hockey team and will be going to Milan-Cortina to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games next month!
As we learn more information, we will add it to this news item!
Photo and article credit to USA Hockey and their social media @USAHockey
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1352594
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicwomenroster
Credit for photo and article to Penn State and their social media: @PennStateWHKY
The Olympic website is: Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics Page
The USA is part of Group A, which also includes Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, and Switzerland. The womens hockey schedule page on the Olympic website is: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule/iho
The TV/streaming schedule for the entire length of the Olympics is here: https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule
Credit to the Team USA social media team. The picture below is from Team USA Womens' Hockey arrival in Milan (You'll recognize Tessa down front!).
If you don't wish to click the above links to find out when the women play, here is a short version of their schedule, which begins prior to the Opening Ceremony:
Feb. 5 - 9:40 am - USA vs. Czechia
Feb. 7 - 9:40 am - USA vs. Finland
Feb. 9 - 1:40 pm - USA vs. Switzerland
Feb. 10 - 1:10 pm - USA vs. Canada
Feb. 13 - 2:10 pm - quarterfinal: USA vs. Italy
Feb. 16 - 9:40 am - semi-final: USA vs. Sweden
Feb. 19 - 12:10 pm - gold medal game: USA vs. Canada
There was a visit by local 13 WREX news anchor Derek Bayne to cover the excitement at Orangeville schools for the upcoming Olympics. Check it out: https://www.wrex.com/news/featured-reports/tessa-janeckes-olympic-debut-unites-orangeville-in-celebration/article_ffb8abb7-48ad-439e-9a1d-ecbe11bea34a.html
A great website to check for the USA women's team progress, as well as read articles on their time at the Olympics is USA Hockey's website: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicwomen
Game 1 vs. Czechia - WIN! Tessa had two assists in the 5-1 win. (Image credit to USA Hockey)
Here are some great links to stories about Tessa & her family:
WREX highlight as Warren celebrates Tessa
KWQC interview with Tessa's childhood coaches
WREX article on Tessa's journey
A great video made by those at Warren HS, where the Janecke family is now:
Opening Ceremony, did you spot her? Here's a pic (from NBC LA social media post)
Game 2 vs. Finland - Win! Captain Hilary Knight also tied the record for most Olympic Goals. (pic from Team USA social media/GettyImages).
Game 3 vs. Switzerland - It's another 5-0 shutout! And there was a new fan in the stands... Games mascot Tina, lol! (Credit to Team USA social media/Getty Images)
Game 4 vs. Canada - The first ever Olympic shutout of Canada... it's a USA win 5-0!! Tessa with one assist in an early goal.
At the end of preliminary play, Team USA is undefeated, and outscored their opponents 20-1! They move on to the quarterfinals, where they match up with the host country Italy on Friday. (Photo credit Team USA social media). Tessa has worked hard with a lot of time on the ice through four games, racking up 3 assists. Go Tessa! (Photo credit WREX social media below)
Quarterfinal vs. Italy - A hard fought win, and another shutout... Tessa with an assist! (Credit to Getty Images)
NBC's unofficial ambassador "Coach" Snoop, or Snoop Dogg, as most of us know him, stopped by the USA Women's Hockey practice to say hello and share the Valentine's Day love. (Credit USA Hockey)
Semifinal vs. Sweden: Another shutout, another win, and Tessa with another assist! This 5-0 win over Sweden means our next stop is the gold medal game! (credit to Getty Images here, and below to NBC Olympics social media page)
A short interview on ESPN includes Tessa!
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47950727
A nice article in the Rockford news:
Final vs. Canada: Oh man, what a nail-biter! We were such evenly matched opponents, even our shots on goal were almost exactly the same. But in the last minutes of regulation, Captain Hillary Knight hit a goal to tie us up and send us into overtime! If you don't know, that then sent us into a 3-on-3 'sudden death' overtime, so the first team to get a goal would win. AND THAT WAS THE USA!! WE'RE GOLD MEDALISTS! We would have been proud of Tessa no matter what, but what an AMAZING thing! It just goes to show... NEVER GIVE UP! (Pic credit Getty Images/Penn State social media)
We had a watch party at the school, and a lot of media around as well. Thank you to WREX, WIFR, and Big Radio for coming out to the little school with a - now Olympic Gold-Winning graduate! Here are some links to those stories:
Below, your gold medal team, USA Women's Hockey! (picture credit USA Hockey)
USA Hockey article on the gold medal game:
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1355939
NBC's Gold Medal Ceremony:
https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/us-womens-hockey-team-receives-gold-medal
From Penn State's social media:
What a whirlwind! We had so much fun following this journey with Tessa. We know the hard work she has put in since she was small, and it has been amazing watching her play with this record-setting team at the Olympics. We would have been proud no matter the outcome, but are just speechless at getting to watch her fulfill her Olympic dream. Congratulations Tessa! (Pic credit to NBC Olympics and USA Olympics):
