Hayley Wickenheiser

Sport: Hockey
Position: Forward (shoots left)
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Born: August 1978

My hockey career was launched when I was 12 years old and I won a gold medal at the Canada Winter Games with Team Alberta. Before moving to Alberta, I had grown up in Saskatchewan and was playing hockey there, but because of economic reasons, my family moved to Alberta. And, today, like back then, Calgary is the best place for my career.

My proudest moment in sport would have to be winning the gold medal in Salt Lake at the 2002 Winter Olympics. We had lost to the U.S. women’s team seven times. But, we won when it mattered the most and against a lot of adversity and pressure. It was the best win of my career to date.

Sport, and in particular team sport, has really given me many experiences and opportunities to work in a group. You pull for a common goal, and you realize that every player has different strengths and weaknesses. The key with leadership is to create an environment where people feel safe and motivated to be themselves.

You also can’t be afraid to go against the grain at times and stand up for what you believe in, regardless of what others think or say. It takes courage and an inner strength, but when a group pulls together and works towards a goal, it can be so powerful and motivating.

When others ask me about motivation, I say that for me, the thing that has helped me the most is having a true passion for what I do. You have to put in a lot of time and effort to hone your craft, so if you love it, it doesn’t feel like hard work. You also have to be committed to living your sport from day to day. Having good habits and consistency make all the difference, for sure.
What you eat, how you sleep, what you think, all play a role. And, the key is to surround yourself with great people and a support system, as they will be there no matter what your success is. Most importantly, try to find ways to enjoy it and take lots of pictures along the way. Being an athlete goes by pretty fast!
We all have someone we look up to. I have many people. But my son is my everyday hero because he has had a lot of moving around and uncertainty in his life at times. Yet he wakes up every day happy to be alive. Funnily enough, he doesn't like hockey—he calls it “boring”—but has the inner confidence to find the things he likes to do and just live life! He gives me perspective every day.

More about Hayley . . .

Family:  Partner Tomas and son Noah
Education:  Pursued bachelor of science at the University of Calgary
Trains at:  Olympic Oval and Canada Olympic Park, Calgary
Other Pursuits:  softball player and commentator (for CBC at 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics); played on Olympic fastball team at 2000 Sydney Summer Games; committed to children and children’s organizations such as KidSport, Right to Play, Dreams Take Flight, Clean Air Champions and Spread the Net

Other milestones:
•   Was first woman to play in a men’s professional hockey game in 2003 with the Kirkkonummen Salamat of the Finnish Second Division
•   Played on a men’s professional Division One team during 2008/2009 season in Eskilstuna, Sweden
•   Won gold medal in hockey at 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and at 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy; named most valuable player at both Games
•   Won silver medal in hockey at 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan
•   Named one of the 25 toughest athletes by Sports Illustrated in 2008
•   Five-time World Champion: 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004
•   Named captain of 2010 Olympic team
•   Often called best female hockey player in the world
•   Won Canadian Press 2007 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award for female athlete of the year.