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Sochi Olympic gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser at the Winsport, Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary – by Simon Fraser University –

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Hayley Wickenheiser

Hayley Wickenheiser is a Canadian former ice hockey player. She was born on August 12th, 1978 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Wickenheiser is the first woman to play professional hockey in a full-time capacity and a position other than the goalkeeper.

Hayley is a highly decorated athlete who has represented Canada in many tournaments. She has won her fair share of accolades such as Olympic gold and silver medals.

To many in and outside Canada, Hayley is regarded as the greatest female hockey player of all time. The following is a list of amazing facts about Hayley Wickenheiser.

1. She Started Playing Hockey at A Very Young Age

Wickenheiser鈥檚 hockey journey began in her father鈥檚 backyard rink before she had turned five. She then began playing minor ice hockey on outdoor rinks built for the public in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.

In 1990, at age 13, Hayley and her family moved to Calgary, Alberta. Here she joined the Alberta team and was not only the youngest but also the smallest on the team. Wickenheiser was part of the Alberta team that participated in the 1991 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

She scored three goals in the tournament including the tournament-winning goal in the final. This was her first gold medal and the first of many more wins to come. She was also the tournament鈥檚 most valuable player (MVP).

2. Named in Canada鈥檚 National Women鈥檚 Team for The First Time At 15 Years of Age

IIHF World Women Championship 2011. Gold Medal Game USA – Canada 3-2 OT – by _becaro_ –

In 1994, 15-year-old Hayley Wickenheiser was called up to Canada鈥檚 National Women鈥檚 Team for the very first time. She would remain a member of the team for the rest of her professional career.

The first international tournament she attended was the 1994 World Championship, in Lake Placid, New York. Team Canada won the tournament. Wickenheiser played three games and posted her first goal contribution, an assist to help Canada win the gold medal.

3. The First Woman to Score A Goal in A Men鈥檚 Semi-Professional League

Canadian female ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser, in Finnish male team Kirkkonummen Salamat 2003 – by Jsmeds –

In 2003, Wickenheiser was a HC Salamat player in the Suomi-sarja league. Suomi-sarja is the third-highest hockey league in Canada. Here she became the first woman to ever score a league goal in a men鈥檚 semi-professional league.

This was her first season in the league. She finished the season with 2 goals and 10 assists after making 23 appearances.

4. She Set a Record For Most Points At a Women鈥檚 World Hockey Championship

In 2007 Wickenheiser scored eight goals and provided six assists. This was a new record for most points (14) at a women鈥檚 hockey championship.

Team Canada won its first world championship since 2004 by beating the United States 5-1 in the Gold medal game in Winnipeg. Wickenheiser was the Most Valuable Player in the Match.

5. She is An Amazing Leader

Canadian Women’s National Team alternate captain Hayley Wickenheiser during pre-game ceremonies at the 2014 Heritage Classic in Vancouver – by Resolute –

In 2007, Wickenheiser took over the captaincy from Cassie Campbell during the Women鈥檚 World Hockey Championship against the United States. She ended up becoming the MVP of the match.

She also demonstrated outstanding leadership skills at the 2012 women鈥檚 World Championship. Wickenheiser lost to the Americans 9-2 in the preliminary round. However, she and the team proceeded to win a gold medal after beating the United States 5-4. She helped Canada to World Championship silver medals in 2013 and 2016.

6. She Also Played Professional Softball

Wickenheiser is an accomplished softball player. She received a call up to the Canadian softball team for the 2000 Summer Olympics on 24 June 2000. She participated in the Canadian Midget Nationals in 1994, where she was named all Canadian Shortstop and Top Batter.

In 2000 Wickenheiser attended and helped Simon Fraser University en route to a third-place finish at the NAIA National Olympics.

Later she would compete in the Summer Olympics in Sydney. Wickenheiser led Canada to the team’s highest batting average in the tournament. Unfortunately, Canada lost three games by one run. Since then Wickenheiser has not been active in softball.

7. Hayley Wickenheiser Played in Women鈥檚 Professional Hockey Leagues

Hayley Wickenheiser celebrates her first CIS goal with her teammates – by Canada Hky –

In 1996 Alberta finished fourth place at the Esso Women鈥檚 hockey nationals. She was named the MVP at the tournament.

In both 1997 and 1998, Wickenheiser was named MVP and won Nationals with Edmonton Chimes and Calgary Oval X-Treme respectively. She won a gold medal and two silvers in the Esso Women鈥檚 National Championships between 1999 and 2001.

She was the leading scorer and named to the league鈥檚 all-star after participating in the Women鈥檚 Hockey League with Calgary Oval X-Treme in 2004-2005.

8. She Is Active in The Hockey World After Retirement

Wickenheiser announced her retirement on January 13, 2017, from professional hockey. She wanted to pursue medical school.

Wickenheiser was hired as the Assistant Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs on August 23, 2018. Later, on May 17, 2021, she was promoted to Senior Director of Player Development.

Hayley also played a key role in developing the 鈥淲ick Stick鈥�, hockey stick program to create branded equipment targeted toward women.

9. Her Personal Life Is as Interesting As Her Hockey Career

Wickenheiser鈥檚 parents are both physical education teachers, Tom and Marilyn. She also has a brother and sister. She lives in Calgary with her adopted son, Noah.

Wickenheiser graduated with a degree in kinesiology in 2013 and finished off her medical school at the University of Calgary鈥檚 Cumming School of Medicine in 2021. Former professional hockey player Doug Wickenheiser, her cousin. It seems her talent is genetic.

Hayley is the author of Gold Medal Diary-Inside the World鈥檚 Greatest Sports Event. It outlines her training with the Canada Team and events leading up to the 2010 Olympic Games.

Wickenheiser is the founder of the Wick Fest, an annual showcasing of girls’ and women鈥檚 hockey. The event invites female players from all over the world to several days of clinics, workshops, and games learning from leading instructors, coaches, and players.

10. A Recognizable Presence in Popular Culture

EA Sports officially announced that Wickenheiser would be among the first two female players in NHL 13. She is a playable character in the game and can be transferred to any team of the user鈥檚 choice.

Bell Media and Uninterrupted announced that a documentary about her life would be released in 2022.