Hayley Wickenheiser dominated in her 23 year career as a member of the Canada’s National Women’s Team (Matthew Manor/HHOF).

The Hayley Wickenheiser story is, quite candidly, extraordinary. As a member of Canada's National Women's Team, she was the most dominant skater over the course of a 23-year career.

Born August 12, 1978, Hayley Wickenheiser played on boys' teams until she was 13. Just two years later, she was selected for Canada's National Women's Team, and played in the 1994 World Championship, joining her teammates in celebrating a gold medal. Wickenheiser played in 13 World Championships in all, winning gold in 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2012 as well as silver in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016. Hayley was named to the tournament All-Star Team in 1997, 1999, 2205, 2007 (she was also selected as the Most Valuable Player), 2008, 2011 and 2012. In 61 games at the Women's World Hockey Championships, Wickenheiser has scored 37 goals and added 49 assists for 86 points.

Wickenheiser hoists the World Championship trophy in 2007 (Matthew Manor/HHOF).

Wickenheiser became the first woman to play full-time professional hockey in a position other than goaltender when she joined HC Salamat, a men's team in Finland's third-division league, scoring twice as well as contributing 10 assists in 23 games. She briefly played with Salamat in 2003-04 after the team was elevated to the second division. Undeterred, Hayley continued to work at playing professionally. She enjoyed a tryout with IFK Arboga IK in Sweden's men's third division in 2007, and in 2008-09, signed to play with HC Linden in that same league.

Hayley served as captain in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada (Jeff Vinnick/HHOF)

Wickenheiser and teammates show off their gold medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics (Jeff Vinnick/HHOF)

2011 was a huge year for Hayley Wickenheiser. In June, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, and The Hockey News named her one of the ‘Top 100 Most Influential People in Hockey'. That same year, Hayley's hometown of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan named their new recreational complex the Crescent Point Wickenheiser Centre. In 2014, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and was elected to the International Olympic Committee's Athlete's Commission.

Following her official retirement as a player in January 2017, Hayley returned to university to get her medical degree. In addition, in August 2018, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Wickenheiser as their Assistant Director of Player Development.