By: Tina Nguyen
Left side: Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press // Right Side: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
On Monday, May 17th, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they had promoted Wickenheiser to the role of senior director of player development and hired Danielle Goyette as their director of player development.
The two former teammates are reunited as they become the first two women to lead a department in the NHL.
Wickenheiser, who was hired back in 2018 as assistant director of player development, also recently obtained her medical doctor's license. She is now considered a physician and will begin her residency at a hospital in Toronto.
The 42-year-old is regarded as the greatest female hockey player of all time and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. She is the all-time leading scorer for the Canadian national women’s team, with 168 goals and 379 points in 276 games. As well, she boasts four Olympic gold medals and seven IIHF gold medals.
Goyette’s 114 goals and 219 points in 172 games are ranked third in Canadian women's hockey team scoring. She’s also won two Olympic gold medals and seven IIHF gold medals. In eight IIHF world championships, she scored 29 goals and 53 points, making her Canada’s all-time leading scorer. Four years ago, Goyette was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. For over a decade, the Quebec native coached the women’s hockey team at the University of Calgary. In 2013, Wickenheiser—Goyette’s linemate of 15 years—joined the team as one of her players.
It is safe to say that the pair are well acquainted.
Wickenheiser said that she was not necessarily “searching for a woman.” She was looking for “the best person that [she knew], or that is out there, that could fill this role.” The pair have frequently voiced their gratitude regarding the positive effect their pro-hockey careers have had on girls’ hockey. There is no doubt that both women have played major roles in growing the game for women and changing the stigma around women’s sports. They are pioneers in women in sport.
Goyette stated that the Maple Leafs are “one of the best sports organizations in the world.” Much of that is due to their progressive and forward-thinking approach in an “old-school” league. It is no secret that the NHL is far behind leagues like the NBA and the MLB in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Widely seen as a predominantly white male market, progress has been slow compared to other pro-sports.
However, changes have been implemented, such as the Hockey is For Everyone movement that the league started intending to create social change and drive an inclusive community. Dubas, the Leafs GM, feels that “the more diverse you can make your organization [the better]” and that “if you're only hiring white males—and I'm saying that as a white male—you're probably leaving a lot on the table in terms of where your organization [is going] and how it can think, and how it can evolve and develop."
The youngest GM in the National Hockey League constantly strives for diverse innovation and has regularly voiced the importance of hiring the best-qualified person for the job, regardless of gender, race, etc. The biggest hockey market in North America advocating for change has certainly been effective and has made a difference in many peoples’ lives. It also shows others how a true, world-class organization thinks.
To many, these hirings were nothing more than a news headline. To me, it was everything.
Every girl who has been involved in sports knows the trials and tribulations of simply doing what you love. Growing up, I heard every name and every saying in the book. I was never allowed to join the boys’ games at recess or talk about sports without being questioned. The idea of a girl in sport was unfathomable to many of those around me.
But it didn’t matter. I loved it.
When people hear that I want to work in the pro-sports industry, they laugh. How could a Southeast Asian woman be successful in a male-dominated industry?
“Now, everything is changing and I feel lucky that I’m able to open some doors,” said Goyette. “It’s not just about us, but it’s about female sport as well—having women in sport, having roles that make a difference in the NHL. For me, it’s pretty amazing to be in that position.”
This is why this matters. These broken boundaries give people hope and inspire those like me that triumph is achievable in this industry; that anything is possible.
People should not be discouraged from pursuing their goals because of a statistic or hollow belief.
Unquestionably, this a positive step in the right direction that will hopefully be considered “normal” in upcoming years
Works Cited
"All-Time Scoring." www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/national/history/all-time-scoring.
"Hayley Wickenheiser Calls End to Gold-plated Career." CBC, 14 Jan. 2017, www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hayley-wickenheiser-calls-it-a-career-1.3935762.
Kaplan, Emily. "Leafs' Development Staff Now Led by 2 Women." ESPN.com, 17 May 2021, www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31461353/toronto-maple-leafs-promote-hayley-wickenheiser-hiredanielle-goyette-lead-development-staff.
Toronto Maple Leafs. "Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser & Danielle Goyette – Media Availability." YouTube, 17 May 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ph4Nt-VaQ8&t=929s.