Canada takes on Finland in a men’s hockey semifinal matchup at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday, Feb. 20, at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

Laila Edwards, who hails from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, started playing hockey when she was five years old, and comes from a family of fellow players. Per NBC, Edwards served as defense for the Winter Olympics 2026 but typically has also played forward. She does both at the University of Wisconsin, where she’s currently a senior.

The Milano Cortina Games are in their final stretch, as the Canadians look to capitalize with more spots on the podium

With the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics heading to the semifinals on Friday, here are five players who have stood out.

Laila Edwards’s rise at the Winter Olympics had already rewritten expectations, emerging as a breakout performer on a U.S. roster that steamrolled opponents en route to Thursday’s gold-medal tilt. The prevailing storyline entering the final against Canada was straightforward — an old rivalry renewed,

Jason Kelce gave his two cents on Laila Edwards claiming she's the "best athlete to come out of Cleveland Heights" The trailblazing ice hockey player hails from the same Cleveland suburb as Jason and his brother Travis Kelce Edwards' comment came shortly after she made history as the first Black woman to win Olympic gold in ice hockey for Team USA Jason Kelce is weighing in on Laila Edwards ' new self-professed title.