Switzerland women’s hockey player Alina Müller has been one of the breakout stars of the 2018 Winter Olympics. And she’s only getting started.
Ever since women’s hockey became an official Winter Olympics sport in 1998, the USA and Canada have been its 1980’s Los Angeles Lakers and 1960’s Boston Celtics. The former has been consistently in the championships, though they’ve won just one gold medal. Meanwhile, the latter has won the past four gold medals. Though the rest of the world has closed the gap considerably, the United States and Canada still steamroll everyone else. Switzerland, led by 19-year-old phenom Alina Müller, is in the process of changing that.
The hockey world got introduced to her when she was a 15-year-old. Müller became the youngest Olympic hockey player to win a medal when her three points in six games helped lead Switzerland to a bronze medal, their first in women’s hockey. She’s improved exponentially since then.
Muller came into the tournament averaging over three points per game in Switzerland’s premier hockey league. Going against a unified Korea team who had minimal practice time together before their opening game, she got the Olympics started with a historic four-goal performance. This included a natural hat-trick, as Müller scored Switzerland’s first three goals.
Her performance so far at the Olympics has been historically great. Only four players have ever averaged three points per game at the Olympics – Hayley Wickenheiser, Meghan Agosta, Gillian Apps, and Müller. She’s the only non-Canadian in that legendary quartet.
Entering the medal round, perhaps no women’s player is more integral to her team than Müller. Switzerland scored a total of 13 goals in their three preliminary round games. Müller scored six of them and assisted an additional three.
It’s unreal how confident and great the 19-year-old from Switzerland is. Usually, it takes even the best hockey players a while to develop their confidence. Especially at an international level. But Müller has proven to be an extremely special player. The kind of player who could turn Switzerland into a force to be reckoned with in women’s hockey.
Müller comes from a hockey family. Her brother Mirco Mueller is currently a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils. And for the record, he’s not ashamed to admit his sister is better than him. Both siblings played for the EHC Winterthur youth team. Mirco was drafted in the first-round of the 2013 draft by the San Jose Sharks. Alina will shortly be joining her brother in North America.
Women’s hockey in North America has been desperately looking for young stars. With Müller committed to attending Northeastern University beginning next season, the ladies on ice will finally get the attention they deserve. The NCAA can already say they boast some of the best players in the world, including Team USA defenseman Cayla Barnes. But starting next year, they’ll be able to say they have arguably the best European women’s hockey player in the world. Or at the very least, one of the most exciting.
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Switzerland will have to go through either Canada or Team USA in the semifinals in order to reach the gold medal game. Müller could be the toughest non-North American test either of the two powerhouses have faced in years. Possibly ever. Women’s hockey is quickly gaining popularity thanks to its young stars. Müller is perhaps the brightest of them all.
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