CALGARY, Alta. – Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, Man.), who won a world title and an Olympic silver medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team, has announced her retirement from international competition.
The 29-year-old played 100 games across all three levels of Canada’s National Women’s Program; she totaled 10 points (3-7—10) in 70 games with Canada’s National Women’s Team, 23 points (10-13—23) in 21 contests with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team and nine points (3-6—9) in nine appearances with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team.
“Getting the chance to play for my country was - and always will be – one of the greatest honours of my life,” said Bram. “I will be forever grateful for each and every opportunity I had to wear the Maple Leaf. Growing up, I played hockey because I loved it and eventually I started dreaming of representing Canada on the world stage. Little did I know the dream would lead to so much more.
“Hockey taught me respect, responsibility and perseverance. It taught me how to win with humility and lose with grace. It allowed me to travel the world. It showed me what the lowest lows and highest highs feel like. It taught me the importance of dreaming big, setting goals and believing in myself. Hockey gave me so much, and I will look back and cherish every memory forever.”
Bram represented Canada at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, winning silver, and played at five IIHF Women’s World Championship, winning one gold (2012) and four silver (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017). In six appearances at the 4 Nations Cup, she won two gold (2013, 2014) and four silver (2012, 2015, 2016, 2017).
Her career with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team included two gold (2010, 2011), one silver (2009) and one bronze (2012) at the MLP/Meco Cup, and she was a silver medallist with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship.
Nationally, she won a bronze medal with Manitoba at the 2007 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.
“On behalf of Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, I want to thank Bailey for her dedication to Team Canada over the past 12 years,” said Gina Kingsbury, director of the women’s national teams. “She has been an ambassador for our program on and off the ice, and we wish her success as she focuses on a new career.”
After four seasons with Mercyhurst University, which included a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2010, Bram was selected eighth overall by the Brampton Thunder in the 2012 CWHL Draft. She played one season with the Thunder before being traded to the Calgary Inferno in 2014, and won a Clarkson Cup title with Calgary in 2016.
With her on-ice career complete, Bram is working towards becoming a registered massage therapist.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Women.