North Reading's Select Board proclaimed July 25, 2026 "Alex Carpenter Day," honoring the town's first Olympic gold medalist.

NORTH READING -- The Select Board opened its July 20 meeting by welcoming Alex Carpenter to Town Hall and formally proclaiming July 25, 2026 as "Alex Carpenter Day" in North Reading.

COMMUNITY -- The board's proclamation recognized Carpenter as "North Reading's first-ever Olympic gold medalist," after she and the USA women's ice hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 19 in Italy. The proclamation credited Carpenter with 25 years in the sport of ice hockey and 12 years with the USA women's ice hockey program, noting she served as one of the team's assistant captains on the way to the gold medal. Board members also cited her Boston College career, saying she graduated as the program's all-time leader in goals, assists, points, power-play goals, game-winning goals and plus-minus, and ranked fifth in NCAA history in both goals and points; one member added that she was the first overall pick in her draft class.

Representatives for the state Legislature presented additional honors: a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, signed by the Speaker of the House, and a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate signed by Senate President Karen Spilka, which a Senate staffer said marked "the first time we recognize a gold medal winner" with a Senate cup. Carpenter, whose family moved to North Reading from New Jersey, thanked the town for its support. Board members noted that at Carpenter's request, the day's festivities would include a ride around town in a fire truck on Saturday around noon.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.