CALGARY, AB – One of the most decorated hockey players in Canadian history has decided to end her playing career. Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that Danielle Goyette, 41, an eight-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion, is retiring from Canada’s National Team. Goyette, a native of St-Nazaire, QC, was a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team from the 1991-92 season to 2006-07, appearing in 172 games over that span.

Goyette earned 20 gold and four silver medals at major international competitions, including the Winter Olympics, IIHF World Women’s Championship, 3 Nations/4 Nations Cups and Pacific Rim championships. Goyette sits second on Canada’s National Women’s Team all-time scoring list, with 219 points – 114 goals and 105 assists. She is one of only three players to have reached the 100-goal mark (Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford are the other two).

Goyette was also Canada’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy. It marked the first time that a female hockey player carried the flag for Canada at the Olympic Opening Ceremony and was the first time that a Canadian hockey player had carried the flag since Hubert Brooks did it at the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Goyette will continue to be involved in hockey. The native of St-Nazaire, QC was an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team in 2007-08, which won the silver medal at the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship on Saturday in Calgary. She is also the head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey team, a job she has held since the start of the 2007-08 season. The Dinos play in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

“It is both with sadness and excitement that I step away from the National Women’s Team,” says Goyette. “I can look back at many fond memories over the 16 years that I played on the team and it will be difficult in some ways to not be on the ice any more with that group. But I’m also excited to take a step forward in my career and have complete focus on coaching, both with Team Canada and the Dinos.”

“Danielle Goyette has been and will continue to be a great ambassador for the women’s game, not only in Canada, but throughout the world,” says Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada’s president. “Danielle is one of the most well-known players in women’s hockey. We commend her for all that she has given to the National Women’s Team program and wish her all the best in coaching.”

DANIELLE GOYETTE MEDIA AVAILABILITY TODAY
Note – This will not be a formal press conference
but a media availability with Danielle Goyette and Hockey Canada representatives

Date: Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
Time: 1 p.m. (MT)
Where: Hall of Champions
Hockey Canada head office
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB
Also in attendance:
Johnny Misley (Executive Vice-President, Hockey, Hockey Canada)
Julie Healy (Director, Female Hockey, Hockey Canada)
Melody Davidson (General Manager, National Women’s Team)