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The best goal-scorer in Canadian women’s hockey history encouraged University of Saskatchewan graduates to set their own goals Thursday morning.
Shaunavon, Sask. native Hayley Wickenheiser addressed new grads after receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during a convocation ceremony at TCU Place.
“It’s one thing to be the best in the world, but it’s a completely different thing to be the best for the world,” she said.
“People wouldn’t ask you to do great things if they didn’t believe you could do them. And all of you today have passed that test.”
Wickenheiser certainly knows about accomplishing great things.
She debuted for Team Canada at the age of 15 after battling in minor boys’ hockey for years, then went on to play 23 seasons with the national team.
Her retirement in January left her with five Olympic medals – including four-straight gold medals from 2002 to 2014.
She also won seven world championships, was named female athlete of the year in 2007 and is a recipient of the Order of Canada.
Wickenheiser said she ended up with a “buck it” list growing up, proving people wrong who didn’t think girls could excel at hockey.
“I had to buck gender, conformity, tradition, the fear of failure,” she told the grads.
“So I would ask all of you, what’s your ‘buck it’ list? What do you stand for? What are you going to fight for?”
The long-time team captain also warned them not to follow the crowd.
“The world needs less sheep and more independent thinkers,” she said.
“The herd mentality right now is very dangerous in the world, and it’s up to all of you to bring your ideas and ingenuity out there and chart your own path.”
Wickenheiser adds the honorary law degree to a kinesiology degree earned from the University of Calgary.
She plans on going to medical school after stepping away from hockey.
The U of S invited her as one of six honorary degree recipients throughout their convocation ceremonies. Hollywood actor Kim Coates was honoured Tuesday.
