St. Mary's Central Celebrates Alumna Curl-Salemme's Olympic Hockey Success

Bismarck native and SMCH graduate helps Team USA crush Canada 5-0 in preliminary round

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The U.S. women's hockey team dominated Canada 5-0 in the preliminary round of the Olympics, with Bismarck native and St. Mary's Central High School (SMCH) graduate Britta Curl-Salemme assisting in the victory. Students and staff at SMCH are overjoyed to see their alumna representing the country, state, and school on the world stage.

Why it matters

Curl-Salemme's success at the Olympics is a point of immense pride for the Light of Christ school system and the Bismarck community, as she demonstrates the potential for local athletes to reach the highest levels of their sport through hard work and dedication.

The details

Curl-Salemme, who graduated from SMCH in 2018, recorded one assist and three shots on goal in Tuesday's preliminary round game against Canada. Current SMCH students, including hockey players Elie Horner, Karley Grabar, and Owen Deeter, expressed awe at Curl-Salemme's skill and inspiration to follow in her footsteps.

  • The U.S. women's hockey team faced Canada in the preliminary round on Tuesday afternoon.
  • Curl-Salemme's next game with Team USA is against Italy on Friday in the quarterfinals.

The players

Britta Curl-Salemme

A Bismarck native and graduate of St. Mary's Central High School, Curl-Salemme is currently representing the United States in women's hockey at the Olympics.

Connor Doll

The principal of St. Mary's Central High School, where Curl-Salemme attended.

Elie Horner

A student at St. Mary's Central High School and a hockey goalie who has played on the ice with Curl-Salemme.

Karley Grabar

A student at St. Mary's Central High School and a hockey player who is inspired by Curl-Salemme's journey.

Owen Deeter

A student at St. Mary's Central High School and a hockey player who is motivated to follow in Curl-Salemme's footsteps and make it to the Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“What I think is really beautiful about Britta's story is that she is really easy to root for. She represents her family really well, herself really well, obviously our school is a way that we're super proud of.”

— Connor Doll, Principal, St. Mary's Central High School (KFYRTV)

“I've even been on the ice with her a few times, and it has been scary seeing her shot, but it's just really impressive the mastery she has for the game.”

— Elie Horner, Student and Hockey Goalie, St. Mary's Central High School (KFYRTV)

“Knowing that someone worked from here, from St. Mary's, to get to the Olympics is just really cool.”

— Karley Grabar, Student and Hockey Player, St. Mary's Central High School (KFYRTV)

“It gives us hockey players a lot of motivation to just push ourselves to want to be like her and make it to the Olympics someday.”

— Owen Deeter, Student and Hockey Player, St. Mary's Central High School (KFYRTV)

What’s next

Curl-Salemme and Team USA will face Italy in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The takeaway

Britta Curl-Salemme's success at the Olympics has inspired the students and staff at St. Mary's Central High School, demonstrating that with hard work and dedication, local athletes can reach the highest levels of their sport and represent their community on the world stage.