CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Gillian Ferrari, who has been a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 2000-01, is retiring from international competition.

The Thornhill, Ont., native played 83 games on the Team Canada blue line and recorded 18 points (one goal, 17 assists). She won nine gold medals with Canada’s National Women’s Team, including at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Halifax, N.S, 2007 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Winnipeg, Man., and six times at the 3 Nations/4 Nations Cup (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009). Ferrari also won silver medals with Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Harbin, China, and 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Hämeenlinna, Finland. She was centralized with Canada’s National Women’s Team during the 2009-10 season, leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

Prior to joining Canada’s National Women’s Team, Ferrari spent two seasons with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team, serving as captain in August 2001, leading the team to a three-game series win against the United States. In June 2006, she was elected to the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame.

“I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of Team Canada for many years,” said Ferrari. “I cherish the memories and the friends that I have made and I am so thankful to have played with such an amazing group of inspiring women. Thank you to my teammates, coaches and everyone else who has supported me over the years. I look forward to the next stage of my life.”

Since 2010-11, Ferrari has been playing for the women’s hockey team at McGill University in Montreal, Que. In her first season, she was named a CIS All-Canadian and helped lead McGill to its third national championship in four years. She was tenth in scoring among CIS defenceman, tallying 14 points (five goals, nine assists).

“I’ll be graduating in sports psychology next year, so I’m pretty excited,” Ferrari said. “I am still very passionate about the game, which is why I want to keep playing.”

“Gillian has been a proud member of Team Canada for the past 10 years, and we thank her for what she has done for women’s hockey across the country,” said Brad Pascall, vice-president of hockey operations/national teams for Hockey Canada. “Her smile and sense of humour will be missed on the ice and in the dressing room, and we wish her luck on her future projects.”

Ferrari also won three gold medals at the Esso Women’s Nationals, twice with Ontario, in 20, and once with the Calgary Oval X-Treme, in 2007. She also captured the 2007 WWHL championship while playing for Calgary. In 2005, she won silver medals with the Brampton Thunder at both the NWHL championship and Esso Women’s Nationals and in 1997 won a silver medal with Ontario and was named top defenceman at the national midget championship.