MILAN, Italy — Kendall Coyne-Schofield’s fourth trip to the Winter Olympics with the U.S. women’s hockey team has been decidedly different than the first three.
“Yeah, you’re worried about diapers, pack-and-play strollers, food, whole milk, where are they staying, how do I get there?’’ Coyne-Schofield said, referring to her 2½-year-old son, Drew. “…So the logistics are definitely a little different.
“I warned our (equipment) managers, ‘Hey, I have about a couple boxes of diapers in my hockey bag, just so you know.’ But yeah, definitely a little bit different, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.’
The United States beat Italy 6-0 in the quarterfinals at the 2026 Winter Olympic Friday, Feb. 13, and the victory also served as validation for Coyne-Schofield, an experienced forward. At 32, she’s the team’s second oldest player (behind captain Hilary Knight, 36) and the only mother.
Against Italy, she scored back-to-back goals – her first at the Milano Cortina Winter Games – while Drew was in the stands with his father, Michael, at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
“I think it’s special to have him here,’’ Coyne-Schofield. “I think I look up and it’s a reminder of the journey that it took to get back here.’’
She also said she hopes to serve as inspiration for women who want to start a family without giving up there careers.
“It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely worth it,’’ she said. “And every time I look up and see ’em, a reminder of how worth it it was.’’
‘One of my heroes’
Coyne-Schofield scored consecutive goals in the second period, extending Team USA’s lead over Italy to 3-1.
The performance and her ability to juggle motherhood and hockey came as no surprise to Team USA coach John Wroblewski.
“Kendall’s one of my heroes, honestly, I just love her,’’ Wroblewski said.
He recalled his first experience with her, following the 2022 Olympics, a “small game jamboree.’’ But for Coyne-Schofield, apparently there was nothing small about it.
“Kendall was so angry about a rule in the small game jamboree and wanted clarity,’’ Wroblewski said with a smile. “Some coaches weren’t dishing the pucks the same way at this end as they were at that end. … that woman is as driven as you can possibly be, and I love her. I’m so glad we got her.’’
They lost her temporarily when she gave birth to her son July 1, 2023.
But now she’s back, scoring goals as Team USA heads into the semifinals in pursuit of it’s first Olympic gold medal since 2018.
“I think anyone that has a child knows it takes a village to raise one,’’ she said. “And I think about the village that it took to help me get back here after going through childbirth and the process to return to hockey at the highest level.’’
As Coyne-Schofield put it, when Drew shows up, he has 22 aunts – all members of the U.S. women’s hockey team.
Of course the village also includes her husband and Drew’s father, Michael, who at an earlier game, helped Drew catch a puck.