Noah Hanifin, a Norwood native, competed on the USA National Hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. Hanifin was born in Norwood and attended St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, MA, where he played varsity hockey as an eighth grader until he graduated
He then went on to play at Boston College, where he would have a good season. He was the youngest player in Boston College history, being only 17 years old. He played one season before being drafted fifth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015. He is currently playing in the NHL for the Vegas Golden Knights and is in the middle of his 12th season.
Hanifin played his first game on Thursday, February 12, against Latvia, winning 5-1. Hannifin played alongside two other Massachusetts athletes, with Matt Boldy from Millis and Jack Eichel from North Chelmsford.
The USA made it to the Gold Medal game against Canada, where they would pull off the upset, winning 2-1 after going to overtime with goals from Matt Boldy and game winning goal from Jack Hughes.
Hannifin has been more than just a hockey player and someone people look up to.
“He inspires me because it’s cool seeing someone from a place I live compete on one of the biggest stages in the world,” Brendan Bennett, a Norwood Varsity Hockey player, said.
