Keller Surprises Jersey Girls Hockey Club

New Jersey Devils host event with Olympic gold medalist

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:48pm

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An energetic, expressionist painting in neon colors depicting a girls' hockey clinic, with Keller leading the young players on the ice and their movements captured in dynamic brushstrokes.Olympic gold medalist Keller inspires the next generation of hockey stars at a special clinic for the Jersey Girls Hockey Club.Boston Today

Members of the Jersey Girls Hockey Club, Hockey in New Jersey girls and LTP girls gathered at center ice at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House inside Prudential Center, where they were surprised by a special guest - Hilary Keller, a recent Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. women's hockey team. Keller, who currently plays for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League, scored the overtime winner in the Gold Medal Game against Canada to lift the United States to a 2-1 victory.

Why it matters

Keller's visit to the youth hockey clinic demonstrates the growing popularity and visibility of women's hockey in the United States. Her presence as an Olympic champion inspires the next generation of young female players and highlights the progress the sport has made since the first women's Olympic tournament in 1998, which sparked a dream in Keller and many of her teammates.

The details

During the clinic, Keller spoke to the young girls about her journey to Olympic gold, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and not being afraid of failure. She encouraged the players to continue pursuing their hockey dreams, just as she did from a young age. The event was part of the Devils' efforts to grow the game of hockey, especially among young female players, and to provide role models like Keller who can inspire the next wave of talent.

  • Keller scored the overtime winner for the U.S. women's hockey team against Canada in the 2026 Olympic Gold Medal Game.
  • Just days after Keller's gold medal victory, the New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes scored the 'Golden Goal' for the men's U.S. Olympic team.

The players

Hilary Keller

A professional women's hockey player who currently plays for the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women's Hockey League. Keller recently won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. women's hockey team, scoring the overtime winner against Canada in the gold medal game.

Jack Hughes

A player for the New Jersey Devils who scored the 'Golden Goal' for the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team just days after Keller's gold medal victory with the women's team.

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What they’re saying

“To be a part of history, both men's and women's bringing home gold together for the first time ever, it's truly something special. It leaves USA Hockey in a great place. Hockey in general is going to continue to grow in the United States. We all look forward to being a big part of that.”

— Hilary Keller

“Continuing to be accessible for the next generation, I know how much it meant to be me to be able to meet my role models and the ones that sparked a dream in me. So, if I can be available to the next generation of hockey players, get on the ice with them, get to meet them, and continue to inspire them, that's something that is super important to me. Hopefully, I leave the game better than I found it.”

— Hilary Keller

“Not being afraid of failure. I look around at my teammates and myself, not a single one of our journeys was the same. For all of us, we've experienced failure and setbacks. That's the beauty of playing hockey in a team sport, you have so many people around you that are there to support you, your coaches, your teammates, your family. You're never in it alone.”

— Hilary Keller

What’s next

The Jersey Girls Hockey Club and other youth hockey organizations in New Jersey will continue to host clinics and events to grow the sport, especially among young female players, and provide them with role models like Hilary Keller to inspire the next generation of talent.

The takeaway

Hilary Keller's visit to the Jersey Girls Hockey Club clinic demonstrates the progress women's hockey has made in the United States, from the 1998 Olympics that first sparked Keller's dream to the current record-breaking participation numbers. By serving as a visible role model and sharing her journey, Keller hopes to continue inspiring the next wave of young female hockey players to pursue their goals and leave the sport better than they found it.