Hilary Knight Joining Anaheim Ducks For Practice

Who’s says females can’t compete with the men at hockey? The Anaheim Ducks are looking to dispel this rumour by inviting two-time Olympic silver medalist Hilary Knight to join the team at practice. She will become the first female skater to practice with an NHL team on Friday. Maybe games are next?

Knight was the co-leader of the United States Woman’s Olympic team with 6 points in Sochi and was a big part of their run in 2010 in Vancouver despite being the youngest player on the squad.

After the Olympics Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados suited up for a practice with the Edmonton Oilers and while several goaltenders have stood in the way of pucks at NHL practices, it’s rare for a player to get the call.

Hilary Knight, alongside Amanda Kessel, became the faces for the US women’s hockey team for the incredible play with team USA at the last Olympics. The championship game between Canada and the USA was one of the best hockey games in the last decade and it was played by two amazing women’s teams.

Both Szabados and Finland goalie Noora Raty currently play in men’s leagues when their National teams aren’t requiring their services.

Hilary Knight is in town to be a guest coach for a girls team competing at the World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend in Anaheim. Knight will also be honoured at the Ducks preseason game on Saturday as part of “girls play hockey night.”

Outside of the Olympic stage Knight has had quite the successful career being named the MVP of the Canadian Women’s Professional Hockey League in 2012 and participated in the NCAA final four, four times with the University of Wisconsin. She won the national championship twice with Wisconsin.

While at Wisconsin she led the nation in her sophomore year with 45 goals during that season. She led the Boston Blades to a CWHL championship in 2013 and was also named MVP.

Solid move by the Anaheim Ducks to join with the IIHF to promote girls hockey and inviting Hilary Knight to practice with the team.