Canada’s athletes in Sochi: Meet flag-bearer Hayley Wickenheiser

WATCH: Hayley Wickenheiser announced as Canada’s flag bearer for opening ceremonies.

Flag-bearers at the Olympic Games are the leading athletic ambassadors for their countries.

When someone is chosen to be a flag-bearer they immediately become the face of their nation.

In Sochi, the person leading Canada’s Olympians will be 35-year-old female hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser from Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.

People are chosen to carry their countries flags not only because of their impact while competing, but their impact in the community and the attitude with which they represent their country as well.

Considering those are the criteria, Wickenheiser is deserving of the honour. Here’s a look at her accomplishments on and off the ice.

On the ice:

• Is the longest serving member of the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team, having been on the team for 20 years.
• She first competed on the team when she was 15 years and 4 months old, the youngest person ever to do so.
• She has competed in all four Olympic Games of which women’s hockey has been a part of, winning a silver medal in 1998 and following it up with three straight gold medals in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
• In her lengthy career she has competed in 12 IIHF World Championship tournaments, winning seven gold medals and five silver.
• She led both the 2002 and 2006 Olympics in scoring and was named MVP and Top Forward of both tournaments.
• She was chosen to read the Olympic Oath – an oath read by one athlete from the host country while holding a corner of the Olympic flag – at Vancouver 2010.
• She is Canada’s all-time leader internationally in games played (265), goals (166) and assists (204).
• One of her most unique accomplishments, Wickenheiser began playing for Kirkkonummen Salamat of Finland’s Division 2 league in 2003. Three weeks after her first game she became the first woman to ever score a goal in a men’s professional hockey league.

Along with being the most accomplished female hockey player of all time, Wickenheiser is also a tremendous role model off the ice, to those in her community as well as people around the world.

Off the ice:

• In 2011 Wickenheiser received one of the greatest honours for a Canadian when she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women’s hockey.
• She’s not just an incredible hockey player, having represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games as a member of the softball team.
• She has a passion of working with charities, especially those that are dedicated to youth including KidSport, Right to Play, Clean Air Champions and Spread the Net.
• In 2007 she went to Rwanda with Right to Play, an athlete-driven humanitarian organization to provide resources and advice.
• In 2011 she took her son Noah to Ghana on a similar trip, to spread the message that less-privileged children should not give up and that everyone should have the right to be involved in athletics.
• In her spare time Wickenheiser also works as a motivational speaker and mentor. She visits schools of all levels and businesses to share her experiences on and off the ice. She inspires all athletes but has a particular passion for raising awareness and expanding the sport of women’s hockey.

The honour of carrying the flag and leading the Canadian team into Sochi comes just three days after it was announced that, for the first time since 2006, Wickenheiser would not be wearing the ‘C’ on her jersey as captain of the hockey team.

In a surprise move, recently appointed coach Kevin Dineen named fellow-veteran Caroline Ouellette captain over Wickenheiser, who will be an alternate captain.

“Obviously it’s disappointing not to be able to wear the ‘C’ but at the same time I think it gives our team a different dynamic and maybe something we need going into Sochi in order to get everybody going in the right direction,” Wickenheiser said after the announcement.

“I guess I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. At the same time, sometimes you can lead from different areas. If it’s a better decision for the team and gives us a better chance to win a gold medal, then that’s what we have to do.”

Wickenheiser’s attitude on the situation is a prime example of her strong leadership abilities, which have now been rewarded with one of the highest honours an Olympic athlete can receive.