The 2023 women's World Championship is the first time Hilary Knight is the captain of Team USA. She led her team to a 7-1 win on Wednesday.

Hilary Knight is the newest Captain America at the World Championship. 

The 33-year-old is playing in her 13th World Championship as a member of Team USA, but it’s her first time representing her nation as the captain.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be around this room and lead it,” said Knight. “These are the people you want to show up with every single day and just do whatever it is in that day, just so infectious in the best way. You want to come to the rink and work even harder; you want to have fun with them; you want to create those memories. So to kind of be in charge of that collection is a great honor.”

Knight made her international debut for Team USA in 2007. Since that day, she’s won eight gold medals and four silver at the World Championships, and another gold and three silver at the Olympic Games representing Team USA. While those medals dot a storied career, wearing the captain’s “C” is the newest honor in her Hall of Fame career. It’s a culture she grew up in and now has the chance to foster herself.

“Just continue our culture items and continue to have that USA identity that makes us successful on the world stage, but also have fun along the way,” said Knight of her goals as captain. “I remember when I was that age – and how exciting it was to be in those games – and just never lose sight of that.”

For the younger players on the roster, like first time senior national team member Tessa Janecke, Knight is an inspiration and has been for most of her life. Janecke grew up watching Knight play not only for Team USA but also with the NCAA’s Wisconsin Badgers, who Knight also captained as a senior.

“It’s surreal,” said Janecke of playing with Knight. “Seeing her grow into the captain’s role on this team is very cool – she’s an awesome teammate to have. Great competitor, always there if you have questions, helping out her younger teammates, she’s just a great leader for us.”

The line of captains before Hilary Knight to wear the stars and stripes reads like a book of legends. It’s a list that includes the likes of Cindy Curley, Cammi Granato, Jenny Potter, Julie Chu, Meghan Duggan and most recently, Kendall Coyne Schofield.

When USA coach John Wroblewski learned that Coyne Schofield was pregnant and would be stepping away from Team USA, his mind immediately focused on Knight as the team’s next leader.

“It really was a no-brainer – Hilary made the most sense,” said Wroblewski. “This is a legendary player.” 

Knight, who played with the PWHPA’s Team Sonnet this season, is taking with her lessons learned from Coyne Schofield, who she called “the epitome of leadership.”

“She does everything right even when people aren’t watching,” said Knight of Coyne Schofield. 

“Her voice is so strong and so powerful, and the way she empowers others around her is just so incredible.”

Despite Knight’s growing status as a legend of the game, which includes breaking the all-time record for most points at the World Championship last year, Wroblewski says it has never impacted Knight, who remains diligent in her approach to the game.

“You’d expect that there might be a little bit of that superstar mentality or something where she didn’t need to work as hard as the other individuals – it’s just something that sometimes follows those elite players,” said Wroblewski. “There’s just zero ego at all to her. There’s a lot of confidence, but there’s no ego at all.”

In their first game of the 2023 women’s World Championship, Knight not only added to her point totals, scoring a goal and adding two assists in USA’s 7-1 win over Japan, she also continued to lead by example.

“She does all the heavy lifting in regard to loose puck battles and going to the net front, blocking shots, all the things you’d want someone who’s trying to make the team do, she’s already doing those things,” said Wroblewski. “Then of course the elite stick, goal-scoring capabilities. It’s such a good fit for where we are right now.”

“When the young girls come in and see her…they’re just in awe of Hilary’s presence.”

With a new generation of talent entering Team USA’s roster, there is still time for Hilary Knight’s legend to grow before she passes the torch to Janecke and others. Under her leadership, that legend could include another gold medal at this year’s World Championship.