Boston Fleet's Olympians Receive Hero's Welcome from Fans

Hundreds of fans crowded the Prudential Center to celebrate the ice hockey medalists.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Four Boston-based Olympians, including members of the U.S. Women's Hockey team and the Swiss national team, received a hero's welcome from hundreds of fans at the Prudential Center in Boston. The event was hosted by the Boston Fleet professional hockey team, and featured speeches from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declaring special days to honor the athletes' achievements.

Why it matters

The celebration highlights the growing popularity and visibility of women's professional hockey in Boston, with the Fleet's home ticket sales surging after the team's Olympic success. It also showcases the impact these athletes can have as role models, inspiring the next generation of young hockey players.

The details

Boston Fleet Captain Megan Keller, goaltender Erin Frankel, and defender Haley Winn helped lead the U.S. Women's team to a gold medal in Milan, with Keller scoring the overtime goal to seal the victory. Fleet forward Alina Müller also earned a bronze medal for Team Switzerland. Hundreds of fans lined the top floor of the Prudential Center, some waiting for hours, to meet the Olympians at the Fleet-hosted event.

  • The event took place on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • Governor Healey declared March 2 as U.S. Women's Hockey Day in Massachusetts.
  • Mayor Wu announced March 2 as Boston Fleet Day for the city.
  • Boston City Councilor Durkin announced March 17, the day of the Fleet's first home game after the Olympics, as Boston Fleet Olympic Medalist Day.

The players

Megan Keller

Boston Fleet captain who scored the overtime goal to help the U.S. Women's team win the gold medal.

Erin Frankel

Boston Fleet goaltender who played for the U.S. Women's team that won the gold medal.

Haley Winn

Boston Fleet defender who was part of the U.S. Women's team that won the gold medal.

Alina Müller

Boston Fleet forward who scored a game-winning goal for Team Switzerland, earning the country a bronze medal.

Kacey Bellamy

2018 gold medalist and Boston Fleet player development consultant who spoke about the growth of women's sports visibility.

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What they’re saying

“To the little girls out there. And the little boys, but especially you little girls. You can be anything you wanna be. You can do anything you wanna do. Don't let anybody ever tell you otherwise.”

— Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts (wbur.org)

“I would never see these types of fans come in a line like this in an autograph session. It's just absolutely incredible.”

— Kacey Bellamy, 2018 gold medalist and Boston Fleet player development consultant (wbur.org)

“I couldn't be more excited when women's hockey became professional because it was time, you know? It's so much fun to go to the games.”

— Urszula Kaney, Boston Fleet season ticket holder (wbur.org)

What’s next

An upcoming Boston Fleet match at TD Garden will likely break the team's attendance record following the Olympians' success.

The takeaway

The celebration of the Boston-based Olympians showcases the growing popularity and visibility of women's professional hockey in the city, inspiring the next generation of young players and proving that mission-driven sports teams can thrive by embracing community values.