They’ve inspired others. They have smashed barriers and glass ceilings.  They have conquered, shown courage and uplifted others.
 
These 10 women have written the history books through their dedication and success.  It has not come easily as they have had to face challenges along the way.  Their stories, achievements and impact has advanced women’s hockey to where it is today. 
 

Angela James - Canada

James was a trailblazer and pioneer in the sport. The IIHF Hall of Famer enjoyed a 20-year hockey career. Her dominant play on the ice led Canada to four gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championships in the 1990s. At the inaugural tournament in 1990, James set a scoring record of 11 goals. In 50 international games for Canada, James tallied 33 goals and 21 assists.
 
Known as the “Wayne Gretzky” of women’s hockey, she was considered the first superstar in the sport. On the ice, she was considered a tough, quick player with great accuracy in her shots. James was one of two women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. She also broke barriers, being the first publicly gay player and the second Black athlete inducted into the Hall. Throughout her career, James has helped to put the women’s game on the map internationally.

Zsuzsanna Kolbenheyer - Hungary

As the first registered female player in Hungary in 1990, Kolbenheyer is instrumental in raising the country’s profile in the sport internationally.   After suiting up in 55 games for the Hungarian national team, Kolbenheyer moved into the general manager role.
 
Kolbenheyer has been making strides for the sport through her selection to the IIHF’s Council for three consecutive terms. As one of two female council members, Kolbenheyer successfully advocated to the IIHF to increase the number of participating teams at the IIHF Women’s World Championship to 10 from eight. She continued the same push for the Women’s under-18 championship. Kolbenheyer’s impact is widespread as a trusted and supportive ally to women internationally.

Marta Zawadzka - Poland

One of the most prolific faces in Polish hockey, Zawadzka has been a referee since 2000. In 2008, she joined the Polish Ice Hockey Federation as a committee member. Zawadzka took on a leadership role as a council member for women’s hockey and the referee committee and general manager duties for the senior and junior Polish national teams. In 2018, she became the commissioner of the Polish Hockey League.
 
Elected to two consecutive terms with the IIHF Council, Zawadzka has helped to put a relatively unknown country on the international hockey stage through her work. Her dedication to providing more opportunities for growth in the sport has not gone unnoticed. Zawadzka successfully advocated to increase the number of teams participating in the IIHF Women’s World Championship to ten teams, and a similar campaign for the Women’s under-18 championship.

Hilary Knight - USA

The dynamic American forward has taken the women’s game to new dimensions. Knight has earned a gold and three silver medals at four Winter Olympic Games, representing the United States. In 13 IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances, Knight led the country to nine gold and four silver medals. In the 2023 tournament, she wrote history, being the first player to rack up over 100 career points.
 
Participating in 12 Four Nations Cups, the forward guided the States to seven first-place, four second-place, and a third-place finish. Knight was named the IIHF’s Female Player of the Year in 2023. In 2016, she guided the Boston Pride to the inaugural Isobel Cup and was the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) leading scorer. Knight powered the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) team to the Clarkson Trophy in 2013 and was the first-American born player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award. As one of the first players to sign with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), Knight was named captain of the Boston franchise. Skill and determination led her to make history as she was the first female skater (non-goalie) to practice in the NHL.

Caroline Ouellette - Canada

The IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee won four Olympic gold medals with Canada’s national team. Ouellette also earned six gold and six silver medals in 12 IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances. Overall, she had 68 points in 59 games.
 
In international competition, Ouellette 87 goals and 155 assists in 220 games for Canada. With the CWHL’s Les Canadiennes de Montreal, she guided the team to four Clarkson Cups and won league MVP twice. Ouellette was dominant as a strong, towering force on the ice.
 

Lara Stalder – Switzerland

Stalder is one of the most illustrious players in Swiss hockey history.  She has enjoyed tremendous success internationally. She led Switzerland to their first-ever medal (bronze) at the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Championship.  Stalder is Switzerland’s all-time leading scorer for points at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. She was also part of the Swiss team that claimed the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games held in Sochi. While suiting up for NCAA Division 1 team University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, Stalder earned a nomination for the Patty Kazmaier Award.  The forward led Brynas to the Swedish Development Hockey League (SDHL) championship final. In 191 games, Stalder racked up 402 points, which places her third in the league in all-time scoring. 
 
Not having any role models growing up playing the sport, Stalder was motivated to do more for Switzerland as a builder for equal access and opportunities in the sport. Last spring, she began building the game at home by assuming the roles of Assistant to the CEO and Project Manager for the EV Zug organization.  In addition to those roles, Stalder suited up for EV Zug’s women’s that competes in the Swiss women’s “B” League. The Swiss star was part of the local organizing committee for this past January’s IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship

Jayna Hefford - Canada

One of the most decorated Winter Olympians, Hefford won four gold medals and a silver medal. She led Canada to seven gold and five silver medals in 12 IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances. Hefford ranks second in all-time scoring for Canada in international play, with 157 goals and 134 assists for 291 points in 257 games.
 
In the 2008-2009 season, Hefford was the CWHL’s leading scorer.  Over a decade later, she served as the league’s commissioner. Hefford is an Operations Consultant for the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA). One of her initiatives is The Dream Gap Tour, an opportunity to promote the sport and campaign for equity.

Hayley Wickenheiser - Canada

Wickenheiser paved the way for others in the sport as she was the first woman to play hockey in a men’s professional league in a position other than a goalie. In 2003, she suited up for Finland's third-division league team, HC Salamat. She broke more barriers when she became the first woman to score a goal in a men’s professional league. 
 
Arguably considered the best all-time hockey player in the world, she led Canada to three gold and one silver medal at the Olympic Winter Games. Wickenheiser was also named tournament MVP twice. Suiting up for Canada’s national team for 23 years, Wickenheiser is the all-time leading scorer with 168 goals and 211 assists in 276 games. She also guided Canada to six gold and three silver medals in nine IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances. Wickenheisher is an assistant general manager of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
 

Rikka Sallinen - Finland

Regarded as one of the best all-time European players, Sallinen has played a significant role in making Finland a powerhouse in international women’s hockey. In eight IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances, Sallinen led Finland to a silver and six bronze medals. At the 1994 championship, Sallinen led all scorers with 13 points and was named the tournament’s best forward.
 
The legendary Finnish player earned two bronze medals at the Winter Olympic Games. In her final Olympics in 2018, Sallinen entered the history books as the oldest player of any gender to win a medal. She was the first European woman inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2010 and one of the first two women inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. Sallinen was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

Sarah Nurse - Canada

Nurse became a trailblazer when she etched her name in the history books as the first Black woman to win a gold medal in Olympic hockey. The forward set two records in a single Olympic tournament for most points and assists on route to the gold medal at the 2022 tournament in Beijing. Nurse also earned a silver medal at the 2018 Olympic tournament in Pyeongchang. Representing Canada at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, she led the team to two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze medal in four appearances.
 
That same year, Nurse became the first woman to grace the cover of an EA Sports game, this one being NHL23. She has championed equity, diversity, and inclusion in and beyond the sport. The forward is a role model for many young girls, tapping into her potential and aiming for continual improvement. She uses her platform to be a leading voice in a community where there are few players that they can relate to or role models. 

She is the face of the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) as she continues her playing career with Toronto. Nurse has taken a leadership role on the executive committee of the PWHL Players’ Association to help address race issues in the sport.