Boston Pride Land Decorated Forward Hilary Knight

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It’s a run on US Olympians for the Boston Pride, yet this latest signing might just be the biggest one of them all.

After announcing the signing of US Olympians and former Boston Blades members Gigi Marvin, Kacey Bellamy and Brianna Decker, the Pride announced Friday morning that the team has signed forward Hilary Knight, who’s following in the footsteps of her three teammates in leaving the Blades and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League for the NWHL.

Arguably the most well-known and talented female American hockey player today, the move to land Knight is a huge get for the Pride and the NWHL as a whole as the inaugural season for the league draws closer. Knight is a decorated athlete and has found success at every level of the game, having captured two Olympic silver medals, five Women’s World Championship gold medals, two Clarkson Cup titles and a national championship from her time at the University of Wisconsin.

“Hilary is a centerpiece of women’s hockey, continuously pushing the limits both on and off the ice,” said Pride general manager Hayley Moore. “This is what the NWHL strives for in every aspect, and why she is a phenomenal fit for our team.”

 

Knight holds numerous scoring record from her time as a Badger, as she stands as the school’s all-time leader in goals (143), points (262), game-winning goals (30), hat-tricks (9) and total shots (986). After four years at Wisconsin, Knight joined the Boston Blades and played three seasons with the club, leading them to the two aforementioned Clarkson Cup titles, while also becoming the first American-born player to be named the CWHL’s Most Valuable Player.

The quartet of Knight, Marvin, Bellamy and Decker leaving the CWHL to sign with the Pride marks a seismic shift in the power structure of women’s hockey. The CWHL will no doubt be able to survive the losses, but it’s a great sign for the Pride and the NWHL that they can land these types of talents ahead of their inaugural season.