U.S. Olympian Hilary Knight to practice with Ducks on Friday

The Ducks will be joined at practice Friday in Anaheim by Hilary Knight, a two-time U.S. Olympic silver-medaling women’s hockey player who contributed three goals and six points in February’s Winter Games in Sochi.

Knight, 25, is believed to be the first non-goalie to practice with an NHL team.

Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said Thursday that he was anticipating the session with Knight, who at Wisconsin helped the Badgers advance to the national championship in each of her four years, with 45 goals as a sophomore.

Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser, a six-time Olympian, worked out in Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects camps in 1998 and 1999.

After the Ducks’ practice at the Rinks Anaheim Ice, where the team is preparing for both its preseason finale Saturday night at Honda Center against the San Jose Sharks and its Oct. 9 regular-season opener in Pittsburgh, Knight will also guest coach the Lady Ducks hockey team Friday morning.

Knight, from Sun Valley, Idaho, is in the Southland to support USA Hockey’s Girls Try Hockey for Free Day on Oct. 12, an event that aims to introduce young female athletes to the sport and is part of world girls’ ice hockey weekend.

“The Ducks are dedicated to making a positive impact on female youth in local communities using the sport of hockey to teach educational themes, encourage healthy and active living, reinforce the importance of positive character building, and reward youth for their dedication of pursuing academic excellence,” the team said in a news release.

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