Hayley Wickenheiser

Role model and inspiration to girl hockey players everywhere!

On Monday, 11/18/2019, the four time Olympic Gold Medalist and pioneer for womens hockey, Hayley Wickenheiser, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Becoming just the seventh women inducted to the great hall.  It is a testament to her impact on the game and shows how far the girls hockey movement has spread.

"It was not a common thing as a little girl to want to play hockey in the small town where i came from" She said in her induction speach. "But my mom and dad believed that a girl could do anything that a boy could."

She talked about the struggles of growing up wanting to play in a sport that was always dominated by men, but still broke through and was able to play.  Including having to tuck her hair up into her helmet while playing.   She talked about having to sleep in a closet for a week so that she could attend an all-boys hockey camp in Regina.

She played in five Olympic Tournaments from 1998 - 2014 representing the Canadian Womens National Hockey Team. including 4 Gold Medals and 1 Silver. Adding to her resume' is 13 World Championships with 7 Gold and 6 silver medals.   She is also the first women to play professional hockey at a position other than goal-tender. Skated in Finland in 2003 paying in 23 games.

 In 2011 she was Ranked by the hockey news as one of the top 100 most influential people in hockey and one of the top 25 toughest athletes by Sports Illustrated. 

On January 13th 2017, she announced her official retirement as a player of professional hockey to pursue her other passion of Medicine and attended medical school.   While still being  an Assistant Director of Player Development for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and being involved in the game.

Showing courage and passion for the game growing up, and with her hockey mom and hockey dad's support telling her that girls do indeed play hockey too!  Hayley has become a hero and an inspiration for girls all over the world.  Showing them, that with heart, dedication and determination, girls can indeed play hockey too.