Wickenheiser invited into IIHF Hall of Fame

Her impact on hockey deep and far-reaching, Hayley Wickenheiser will be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame this year.

The 40-year-old from Shaunavon, Sask., is one of five players entering the hall May 26 during the world men’s championship in Bratislava, Slovakia.

American forward Mike Modano, Sweden’s Jorgen Jonsson and Slovak stars Zigmund Palffy and Miroslav Satan were also members of the 2019 induction class announced Wednesday by the IIHF.

The late Boris Alexandrov, a former Soviet national team player and coach of Kazakhstan, will be inducted as builder.

The IIHF is hustling Wickenheiser into its hall, given that she retired from playing just over two years ago on Jan. 13, 2017.

During her 23 years playing for Canada, she won four Olympic gold medals and seven world championships.

Wickenheiser is Canada’s all-time leading scorer with 168 goals and 211 assists in 276 games for Canada.

“I spent most of my life playing international hockey and have lived and played abroad, seeing many hockey cultures around the world,” Wickenheiser told The Canadian Press following the announcement.

“This is a great honour to be included in the International Hockey Hall of Fame. It represents the best the world of hockey has to offer.

“There was no better feeling than to play for Canada and travel the world doing so.”

She’s the fourth woman from the Canadian team to be inducted into the IIHF’s hall following teammates Danielle Goyette (2013) and Geraldine Heaney and Angela James (2008).