Seattle Torrent star forward Hannah Bilka was a featured panelist at a recent women’s sports summit in New York, hosted annually by ESPN.
Bilka spoke about winning a gold medal with the U.S. women’s hockey team in Milan, interacting with Torrent fans, her first hockey nickname, and much more. A transcript of her comments below has been edited for clarity and length.
(Yesterday in this space, comments from the summit by Torrent general manager Meghan Turner. You can find Turner’s remarks here.)
You’re From Where?
I did tournaments on the East Coast and I said I was from Texas. They were like, “No way. Your name’s ‘Texas.'” I still see some people and they’re like, “What’s up, Texas?”
I was the only girl on a boys team. I thought that was normal. That was a lot of our childhoods growing up. I didn’t play on a girls team until boarding school and high school. I’m glad that women’s hockey has grown so girls can be on an all-girl team.
USA vs. Canada Women’s Hockey Rivalry
Now with the pro league, you’re playing against these players throughout the season. You’re on the ice with Canadians and you’re like, ‘I hate them.’ (On the ice only, Bilka added.) The more you play, the more competitive it gets. So I think the pro league has definitely heightened that. And then at the Olympics on the highest stage, it’s so much fun to be a part of and battle (alongside my teammates).”
Team USA, Trailing 1-0 To Canada In Olympics Gold Medal Game
Even in-between periods, we weren’t stressed that we were down. We had this confidence that we were going to win the whole time. Steady confidence. I know that’s easy to say now because it happened. But it just felt like it was the script.
Like Knighter (Team USA and Torrent captain Hilary Knight) breaking the Olympic record with that tying goal, and then winning in overtime. It just felt like it was meant to be. It was destiny.
The off-ice camaraderie was so special. You just want to bottle it up and keep it. It’s so cliche, but you have these feelings on championship teams. That closeness with our group, in 20 years I can hit up anyone and talk to them. You really appreciate the moment when you’re in it.
Torrent vs. Sirens Apr. 4 Sellout At Madison Square Garden
There was so much energy. It was so loud. The whistle went and we couldn’t even hear it because the crowd was so loud. All the girls said that was the most fun hockey game they ever played in. The buzz around women’s hockey in New York was a pivotal moment.
Knight Invited Bilka To Academy Awards
She texted me like, “Do you want to go to the Oscars?” And I said, “Is this like a Tik Tok trend? Like a prank or something?” She’s like, “No, the actual Oscars.” So, we made the most of the opportunity and represented women’s hockey.
We met John Hamm, who was a huge hockey fan from St. Louis. He was really fired up to meet us. We showed him our medals.
(For context on Bilka’s next brush with greatness, Miracle is a 2004 film about the gold medal-winning 1980 US men’s hockey team.)
We ended up talking with Kurt Russell, who played (coach) Herb Brooks in Miracle. When I met Kurt Russell, I was just ripping off quotes (from the movie). So cool. I mean, he’s an icon. It’s funny, because we watched that movie every day in the (Olympic) Village. Every day. It just fired us up. Me and Megan Keller would be like, “Okay, time to watch Miracle.” I’ve probably seen it a hundred times.
Torrent Fans, Players Notice You
There’s young girls and boys coming to our games. You’re in warm-ups, and you toss a puck to a little girl. That makes her day – she might be in the P-Dub one day. It’s little moments like that, growing the game, that’s so special.
Earlier Torrent:
— Torrent Come Clean About Dedicated Support Staff
Earlier Kraken:
— Glenn’s Gems; Kraken Farm Team Dominating ECHL Playoffs
