A women's ice hockey player from Canada. She was the first woman to play full time professional hockey in a position other than goalie. Wickenheiser has represented Canada at the Winter Olympics four times, capturing three gold and one silver medal, twice being named tournament MVP. She is widely considered the greatest female ice hockey player in the world.

HOCKEY CANADA BACKGROUND

A member of Canada’s National Women’s Team since the 1993-94 season … Has taken part in four Olympic Winter Games (2010, gold; 2006, gold; 2002, gold; 1998, silver), nine IIHF World Women’s Championships (2009, silver; 2008, silver; 2007, gold;  2005, silver; 2004, gold; 2000, gold; 1999, gold; 1997, gold; 1994, gold), 12 3 Nations/4 Nations Cups (2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996), the Hockey Canada Cup (2009) and the Torino Ice Tournament (2005) … Captained the Canadian roster that won gold on home ice at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. … Played in a six-game series versus the United States leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games … Recorded her 300th international point on September 1, 2009 in a 10-2 victory over Finland … Won the 2007 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canadian Press female athlete of the year … Named Top Forward and to the Media All-Star Team at the 2007 IIHF World Women’s Championship … Named Top Forward and Most Valuable Player and to the Media All-Star Team at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy … Named MVP at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City … Scored her 100th international goal on August 31, 2005 in a 3-1 victory over Sweden, making her the first Canadian to reach that milestone … Named to the IIHF World Women’s Championship All-Star Team four times (2005, 2000, 1999, 1997) and was MVP in 1999 ... Named to Canada’s 2003 IIHF World Women’s Championship roster, but the championship was subsequently cancelled … Named to Canada’s 2001 IIHF World Women’s Championship roster but was unable to attend due to a knee injury ... Captain of Canada's gold medal-winning National Women’s Under-22 Team at the 1998 Christmas Cup

HOCKEY BACKGROUND

2008-09: Played with Eskilstuna Linden, a third-division men’s professional team in Sweden … 2007-08: Named MVP at the 2008 Esso Women’s Nationals in Charlottetown, P.E.I. … Played with the Calgary Oval X-Treme from 2004-08, winning the WWHL championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007 … 2006-07: Won a gold medal with Alberta at the 2007 Esso Women’s Nationals in Salmon Arm, B.C. … 2003-04: Began the season playing with HC Salamat, in the Finnish Division I men’s league, after spending the 2002-03 season in Finland with HC Salamat in Division II … 2002-03: Became the first woman to score a goal in a men’s professional league on January 31, 2003 – a feat that earned her the 96th story in the IIHF’s Top 100 international hockey stories of the past 100 years … OTHER: Named MVP at the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2007 Esso Women’s Nationals … Attended the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers rookie camp in 1998 and 1999

PERSONAL

Daughter of Tom and Marilyn … Nickname: Wick … Resides in Calgary, Alta. with boyfriend Tomas and son Noah … Has one brother, Ross, and one sister, Jane … Is the subject a children’s book entitled “Born to Play”, published by Kids Can Press and authored by Elizabeth Etue … Named one of Sports Illustrated Top 20 ‘Toughest Athletes’ in 2008 … Received the Bruce Kidd Award for athletic leadership at the 2001 Canadian Sports Awards … Member of Canada's National Softball Team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia … Has a web site dedicated to her career at www.hayleywickenheiser.com … Cousin of the late former NHLer Doug Wickenheiser … In July of 2006, the sportsplex in her hometown of Shaunavon, Sask. was renamed Wickenheiser Place in honour of her athletic accomplishments … In 2007, the community of Silver Springs in Calgary dedicated an outdoor rink in her name, called Hayley’s Rink … Active in several local and international charities: Spread the Net, Clean Air Champions and Right to Play … In May 2007, she travelled to Rwanda with four other Olympians as part of Right to Play

Source: Hockey Canada