Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser announces retirement
One of the most decorated athletes in Canadian sports history is hanging up the skates.
Five-time Winter Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser took to Twitter on Friday to announce her retirement.
Dear Canada. It has been the great honour of my life to play for you. Time to hang em up!! Thank you! #grateful #graduationday #canada pic.twitter.com/qzEo6sTgP2
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) January 14, 2017
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to play for Canada," Wickenheiser told Donna Spencer of the Canadian Press. "I'll miss it."
Wickenheiser ends her playing career with four gold medals and one silver from the Winter Olympics, along with seven gold medals and six silvers from the Women's World Championships.
She also ranks first in goals (18) and points (51) in all-time Olympic scoring across all nations, as well as first in points (86) at the World Championships.
Wickenheiser spent time playing men's professional hockey in Sweden and Finland, and trained with NHL players in the offseason.
"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 Bob Nicholson, CEO of Oilers Entertainment Group and former president of Hockey Canada.
For what you have done for our game and for our country, we say: Thank you, @wick_22. pic.twitter.com/9Beoth2EA6
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) January 14, 2017