Joy Dunne will return to Ohio State women’s hockey as an Olympic gold medalist.
The Ohio State junior is one of three Buckeyes, along with former Ohio State players Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka, who won gold medals on Thursday as the United States defeated Canada, 2-1, in the women’s hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
None of them scored in the gold medal game, but each of them made significant contributions to the gold-medal run. Bilka scored four goals and three assists over the course of the tournament. Dunne contributed two goals and three assists while Barnes had one goal and played on the third defensive line.
GOLD MEDAL BUCKEYES
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) February 19, 2026
Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka and Joy Dunne win gold with Team USA! #GoBucks | #OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/4IFWb41nsJ
Barnes wins her second gold medal, as she was also part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team in 2018, while Dunne and Bilka each win gold in their Olympic debuts.
Four former Buckeyes earned silver medals in Milan as Jenn Gardiner, Sophie Jaques, Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner all played for Team Canada. Jaques had three assists and Maltais had two assists in the tournament while Gardiner and Spooner each scored one goal.
Another former Buckeye earned a bronze medal as Andrea Brändli led Switzerland to a bronze medal. The former Ohio State goalie excelled in net throughout the tournament, making 161 saves against 169 shots on goal. She was at her best in the elimination rounds, allowing just three goals on 119 shots.
Brändli made 32 saves on 33 shots in Thursday’s bronze medal game win over Sweden. The only goal she yielded to Sweden came from current Ohio State defenseman Mira Jungåker, who scored on an assist from current Ohio State forward Hilda Svensson.
BUCKEYE #GoBucks | #DevelopedHere pic.twitter.com/DiARedjJmT
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) February 19, 2026
Jungåker and Svensson were among three current Buckeyes on Team Sweden, also including freshman defenseman Jenna Raunio. Another current Buckeye, freshman forward Sanni Vanhanen, played for Finland, which suffered a 1-0 loss to Switzerland in the quarterfinals thanks to a 40-save effort from Brändli.
