Hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser scores honorary U of S degree
Wickenheiser, who grew up in Saskatchewan, is considered the face of women's hockey
Hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser has been bestowed with an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
The five-time Olympic medalist and Shaunavon, Sask., native received a Doctor of Laws during a spring convocation ceremony Thursday.
"It's a big honour," Wickenheiser told reporters afterwards.
"My life was shaped here in Saskatchewan and to be able to be back and just share a little bit with these students that are going to go out and do the same is kind of fun."
She said her message to students was that "when you get a degree it gives you wings, but now you need to fly."
During her address, Wickenheiser asked graduates to identify what they stand for in life, and to cross off the obstacles that lay on the path to achieving their goals — something she explained as a type of "buck it" list.
A very special day.<br>Thank you! Congrats to all the students who received their degrees today <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/buckit?src=hash">#buckit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sasktough?src=hash">#sasktough</a> <a href="https://t.co/eQq815Kkn1">https://t.co/eQq815Kkn1</a>
—@wick_22"For me, overcoming things like gender, status quo, or tradition — 'Girls don't play hockey' and things like that — made the list."
From hockey to medical school
The 38 year old says that life has flown by since she announced in January she was hanging up her skates after a 23-season career.
Looking back, she's proud to see the game of hockey has become more accessible to girls compared to when she grew up.
"It's not abnormal to see a little girl walk into any rink in Saskatoon with a hockey bag and a hockey stick. Kind of makes me smile."
Wickenheiser started out playeing minor hockey on outdoor rinks with boys' teams before moving to Calgary with her family.
At 15, she made her international hockey debut — the start of a career that led her through playing 23 seasons with the national hockey team.
She remains all-time scoring leader with 168 goals and 379 points in 276 career games for Team Canada.
Wickenheiser has a kinesiology degree under her belt and plans to attend medical school.
With files from The Canadian Press