Monday Jennifer Botterill announced her retirement from our National Women’s team. One of only four Canadians to take part in all four Olympic women’s hockey tournaments and a three-time Olympic gold medallist, Botterill played 184 games in a Team Canada jersey – third all-time behind Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford – recording 65 goals and 109 assists for 174 points, good for fifth all-time. She won 16 gold medals during her 14-year career (1997-2010) with the National Team, including three at the Olympic Winter Games (2002, 2006, 2010), five at the IIHF World Women’s Championship (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007) seven at the 3 Nations/4 Nations Cup (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) and at the 2005 Torino Ice Tournament. Add to that Botterill was named Most Valuable Player at the 2001 and 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championships, took home Top Forward honours as well in 2001 and earned a spot on the Media All-Star Team at the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championship and 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Her final game for Canada was the 2010 Olympic Women’s final in which she set up Marie-Philip Poulin for the gold medal-winning goal.
The selection committee of the Manitoba’s Hockey Hall of Fame has never inducted a woman into its shrine as a player with Jill Mathez the lone female presence in the Hall as a Builder. Its too late for Botterill to be named to the Hall for 2011 as the committee made their selections for this year last December. But expect Botterill’s name to be at the forefront of those considered for induction in 2012 when the committee meets again this December.
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