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Hayley Wickenheiser

Induction Year

2014

Pillar of Achievement

Sports

Born

Aug 12, 1978 (47 years)

Birth Place

Shaunavon, Saskatchewan

Hayley Wickenheiser is regarded as one of the best female hockey players in the world. The decorated Olympian has led her team to four gold and one silver medal, as well as being named the tournament’s most valuable player in both 2002 and 2006. For the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Hayley was selected to be the flag bearer for the Canadian Olympic team in the Opening Ceremonies. During those same Olympics, it was announced that she had been elected to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes Commission. As part of the Canadian Women’s National Team since age 15, Hayley has won seven gold and four silver medals at the Women’s World Hockey Championships. In non-Olympic years, Hayley kept her skills sharp by playing with the University of Calgary Dinos, graduating in 2013 with a BSc Degree in Kinesiology with a future goal in medicine.

Hayley was named 20th of 25 in Sports Illustrated’s Toughest Athletes in the World. She is a two-time finalist for the Women’s Sports Foundation Team Athlete of The Year, was twice named among the Globe and Mail’s Power 50 influencers in sport, and was named among QMI Agency’s top 10 Greatest Female Athletes in the History of Sports.

In 2011, Hayley was appointed to the Order of Canada, “for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women’s hockey.”

Interesting Facts

Also an elite softball player, Hayley participated in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics as a member of Team Canada and worked as a Softball Analyst with CBC’s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Hayley’s passion for sport is paralleled by her drive to give back to the community, particularly to organizations with a commitment to youth such as Plan International Because I am a Girl, KidSport, Right To Play, Clean Air Champions, and Spread The Net.

In 2003, Hayley made history by becoming the first female hockey player to score a point in a men’s professional game with the Kirkkonummen Salamat of the Finnish second division. She also played in Eskilstuna, Sweden with a men’s professional division-one hockey team for the 08-09 season.

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