After a miraculous playoff sweep over the #2 ranked Montreal Victoire in the inaugural PWHL season, the Boston Fleet took the Minnesota Frost to Game 5 in the Walter Cup Finals but ultimately fell short. Boston excelled defensively and netminder Aerin Frankel was sensational, but the offense was their bane for much of the year tallying a league worst 50 goals in the regular season. In hopes to improve offensively, Boston selected Ohio State Buckeyes forward Hannah Bilka with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 PWHL draft. Bilka started out in the USHS(w)  playing three seasons from 2016-2019. In 2016 for Shattuck St.Mary’s U16 where she registered 78 points in 60 games, 38 goals and 40 assists. The next two seasons she played for Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep, posting 131 points in 97 games played. Collectively, she finished with the 30th most points all-time in the USHS with 209 points and a 1.33 PPG.

In 2019, Hannah Bilka made her collegiate debut at Boston College, having one of the most historic Hockey East rookie seasons ever. Bilka’s 30 points in conference play were the 9th most by a rookie in Hockey East history, she led all of her teammates in points with 37 as well as all rookies in PPG (1.13), APG (.71), and SPG (4.06). She was voted to the Hockey East 2nd team, Hockey East All-rookie team, and USCHO All-rookie team. In the following COVID shortened season, Bilka scored 7 goals and 9 assists in 19 games, finishing 3rd in points for Boston College and making the Hockey East 3rd team. In the 2021-22 season, Bilka put together a strong performance, finishing with 33 points in 34 games and posting a +18. Her performance that year earned her a place on the Hockey East 1st team and recipient of the New England Writers Association All-Star. Heading into her senior year at Boston College, Bilka was appointed captain of the Boston College Eagles. Senior year was her most dominant season, setting career highs in assists (29), points (41), +/- (+21), and PPG (1.20). The following offseason Bilka decided to transfer to Ohio State. The Buckeyes went onto win the national title beating Wisconsin 1-0, Bilka and Barnes tallied the assists on the game winning goal by Joy Dunne. That year Bilka posted the 18th highest PPG in the league with 1.23, scoring 22 goals and 26 assists in 39 games. Bilka led the Buckeyes with 48 points and tied 10th for most goals in the league with Danielle Serdachny, Britta Curl, and Julia Gosling. Internationally Hannah Bilka has appeared in five tournaments for the United States, winning gold in the 2018 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and 2023 IIHF World Women’s Championship. The 2022 IIHF WWC was her most offensively prolific international tournament scoring 5 goals and 7 assists in seven games but the U.S.’s run ended with the silver medal.

Hannah Bilka will be a valuable asset to the Boston Fleet in the upcoming seasons. She will add scoring depth on the top six with her skating, playmaking abilities, poise, vision, shot, and two way game. Looking at the roster I expect the Boston Fleet to be a defensive juggernaut again,  this offseason they re-signed many of their players from last season and a few new signings like defender Emma Greco. Boston has two elite playmakers in Hilary Knight and Alina Muller, Hannah Bilka will have plenty of opportunity to make an offensive impact in her first season and may very well be the missing piece to the Boston’s offense.