Ceci Wielenberg: Rising Goalie, Team USA U18 Gold Medalist & Princeton Bound

Ceci Wielenberg is quickly establishing herself as one of the top young goalies in women's hockey. A proud member of Team Illinois, Ceci is committed to continue her hockey career at Princeton University. But before she gets there, she has already earned one of the sport's highest honors — a gold medal with the United States U18 national team. Ceci grew up idolizing the US women's hockey team, so watching Team USA claim Olympic gold in overtime against Canada on February 19th, 2026, was an especially emotional moment for her, knowing some of those players personally from national team camps. Her own Team USA experience came with a memorable twist: she didn't know she would be starting in net until she was stepping onto the ice. That spontaneous moment captures the spirit of Ceci's journey — driven, prepared, and ready when her name is called. With one more season of junior hockey ahead, the future looks incredibly bright for this rising star.