Is she the best ever for women's hockey? If not, she's certainly in the conversation.
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian, but I don't know who else would even be in the conversation. Seems like she's been considered the best player in the world for 20 years.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
Exp:
Some quotes from her and others about her calling it a career.
Quote:
The greatest stride's been made in the acceptance of girls playing the game," says Wickenheiser. "Any little girl in this country can walk into a hockey rink and no one is going to think twice or look twice. There's female hockey change rooms in a lot of rinks now.
"I remember when I was a kid, I hid in the bathroom and tucked my hair up so no one would know I was a girl. I just went through hell really, to play. Girls don't have to go through hell anymore to play hockey."
"Dear Canada. It has been the great honour of my life to play for you. Time to hang em up!! Thank you!" Wickenheiser posted on her Twitter account.
What's next?
Quote:
The 38-year-old from Shaunavon, Sask., told The Canadian Press in a sometimes tearful interview she didn't want to postpone her entrance into medical school any longer.
"It has been the greatest honour of my life to play for Canada," Wickenheiser said. "I'll miss it."
Quote:
Hockey isn't done with Wickenheiser. There will be opportunities for her to work in the game. She said she's had discussions with people in the NHL, but there are no concrete plans yet.
"I have to see how that all fits in with where I'm going in medicine and the rest of my life," Wickenheiser said.
Her impact on the game?
Quote:
The number of registered female players in Canada went from 16,000 in her first year on the national team to almost 87,000 today.
Bob Nicholson, who was Hockey Canada's president and chief executive officer during most of Wickenheiser's career, said she played a big role in giving "girls the dreams that boys had."
"Her record speaks for itself winning so many gold medals, but in years to come, the biggest memory will be how she inspired so many girls to play the game," said Nicholson, now CEO of Oilers Entertainment Group. "She always was harder on herself than any of her teammates and pushed herself to excellence."
One could argue that she's both a player and builder of the sport. So many young women were inspired by her example. Women's hockey has grown exponentially.
Why the viability of women's professional hockey has a was to go, those who do play it go on to be hockey fans in general.
A great ambassador for the sport. HHOF is a no-brainer.
__________________
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Hayley Wickenheiser Retires
