One of hockey's greatest players is set to be in the bright lights of South Florida for the NHL All-Star Weekend.
No, I'm not talking about Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin. It's Team USA forward Hilary Knight.
The American superstar is one of five women's hockey players making an appearance at the skills competition. She has established herself not just as one of the greatest female hockey players in the USA, but one of the best skaters to ever play the game.
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Here are more details on Knight and her involvement at the 2023 All-Star Weekend.
Who is Hilary Knight?
Knight is a member of the United State's national women's hockey team. The 33-year-old has been a member of the national team since she was a teenager, first playing for her country in November of 2006.
The native of Sun Valley, Idaho spent four seasons in the NCAA with the University of Wisconsin. She helped the Badgers to two National Championship appearances, including winning the 2009 title. She ended her collegiate career as the Badgers' all-time leader in goals (143) and points (262), both records that stand today.
Over her nearly two decades with Team USA, Knight has earned eight gold medals at the Women's World Championship, in addition to four silvers. She is the all-time leader in IIHF points, surpassing former Canada forward Hayley Wickenheiser for the record in September.
She also has participated in four Winter Olympics with the team, winning gold once and silver three times.
She also has been a member of three different women's professional hockey leagues. She began her professional career in the since-defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL). Knight had two stints in the league, spending three years with the Boston Blades and two with Les Canadiennes de Montreal. She broke up her time in the CWHL with a two-year stint in the NWHL (now the PHF) with the Boston Pride.
Knight is now a member of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association. She helped form the group back in 2019, with the goal of leading the movement of expanding women's hockey.
In addition to her playing career, Knight also has made appearances as a hockey analyst on ESPN.
Why is Hilary Knight at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills event?
In 2019, the NHL began inviting women hockey players to their All-Star Weekend.
USA's Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker, in addition to Canada's Renata Fast and Rebecca Johnston, made an appearance at the 2019 All-Star Skills night, highlighted by Coyen Schofield's sensational showing in the Fastest Skater competition.
Since then, women's hockey players have been featured at every event. There was a women's 3-on-3 game in 2020 with Canadian and American All-Star squads, and in 2022, Jocelyne Lamoureux Davidson and Manon Rheaume made appearances in the skills competition. There was no All-Star Weekend in 2021 due to the delayed start of the season.
Knight is among those that were invited to this year's festivities. This is her first appearance at All-Star Weekend.