WORCESTER—Naemi Herzig, a freshman forward on the College of the Holy Cross women’s ice hockey team, has been selected as a member of the Swiss National Team for the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, held Feb. 6-22.
Herzig is the first-ever female student-athlete from Holy Cross to compete in the Olympics as well as the school’s first participant in the winter games. She will also be the first Crusader since 1924 to compete in the games while still enrolled as a student. Herzig is the sixth athlete overall with Holy Cross ties to be in the Olympics and the first since wrestler Keitani Graham in 2012.
“I’m incredibly honored to represent my country at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan,” said Herzig in an announcement issued by Holy Cross. “This moment is a childhood dream come true. I’m so proud, humbled and grateful beyond words. I wouldn’t be here without the unwavering support of my family, friends, coaches and teammates.”
Herzig is one of four NCAA athletes to be named to the Switzerland team, joining Alessa Bacchler (Northeastern), Laura Zimmerman (St. Cloud State) and Monja Wagner (Union College). The team will also feature two members of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in Alina Müller of the Boston Fleet and Nicole Vallario of the New York Sirens. Switzerland won a historic bronze medal at the 2014 games in Sochi and placed fourth at the 2022 Beijing games.
In just her first season with the Crusaders, Herzig ranks second on the team in overall scoring with 18 points on six goals and 12 assists in 21 games. Holy Cross has compiled a record of 15-7-1 including a 7-6-1 mark in Hockey East play. The seven conference wins is a new single-season record for the program. In their last game, the Crusaders defeated Boston College 3-1 on Jan. 9. Herzig added an assist in the victory.
“This honor is a testament to Naemi’s relentless work ethic, her discipline and her growth both on and off the ice,” Holy Cross Head Coach Katie Lachapelle said in a statement. “Seeing one of our own represent her country on the world’s biggest stage is a significant milestone for her and our program.”
In the last three years, Herzig has made 15 appearances for the Swiss National Team. She also previously appeared in 16 games for the Swiss Under-18 National Team, recording two goals and four assists.
Switzerland competes in Group A of the Olympic women’s ice hockey competition with Canada, Czechia, Finland and the United States. The Swiss automatically advance to the quarterfinals thanks to their IHF world ranking of No. 5. The team will open play vs. Czechia on Feb. 6 at 8:40 a.m. EST.
Mike Vigneux is a freelance writer in Worcester with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of municipal government, communications, and public relations. An avid fan of all sports, Mike enjoys telling the stories of local athletes and their teams. He holds two degrees from Clark University, a bachelor of arts in Communication and a master of science in Professional Communication. He can be reached at Mikevigs@gmail.com
