Hayley Wickenheiser hasnB次元官网网址檛 had a lot of time to reflect.

The Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey star B次元官网网址� a quadruple Olympic gold medallist and seven-time world champion B次元官网网址� retired in January 2017 and quickly transitioned to medical school.

As if there wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough on her plate already, she then took on the role as assistant director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs in August 2018.

Wickenheiser finally got a chance to look back at her standout playing career, and its impact, on Monday night.

The 41-year-old was among six inductees enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, joining three-time Stanley Cup winner Guy Carbonneau, offensive blue-line dynamo Sergei Zubov and Czech great Vaclav Nedomansky in the players category.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford and legendary Boston College head coach Jerry York went into the hall as builders.

B次元官网网址淚t was not a common thing as a little girl to want to play hockey in the small town where I came from,B次元官网网址� Wickenheiser, a native of Shaunavon, Sask., said during her speech. B次元官网网址滲ut my mom and dad believed that a girl could do anything that a boy could.B次元官网网址�

The road, however, wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy.

Wickenheiser recounted sleeping in a closet for a week just so she could attend an all-boys hockey camp in Regina.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to play the game so bad, I didnB次元官网网址檛 care what I had to endure.B次元官网网址�

She went on to play for boys teams in Calgary B次元官网网址� there werenB次元官网网址檛 any for girls, and sheB次元官网网址檇 tuck her hair under her helmet to avoid standing out B次元官网网址� but still had to fight.

B次元官网网址淚 was taking the spot of a boy, and people didnB次元官网网址檛 really like that too much,B次元官网网址� Wickenheiser told the audience at the Hockey Hall of Fame. B次元官网网址滻 actually developed an ulcer. I wasnB次元官网网址檛 nervous to get hit or to go on the ice. ThatB次元官网网址檚 actually where I felt good. It was when I had to come to the rink and change in the bathroom and then walk through the lobby of all the parents B次元官网网址� the comments and the harassment I would often hear.

B次元官网网址淭hose things gave me thick skin and resilience.B次元官网网址�

She went onto have a stellar 23-year career with Canada and played professionally in Europe, blazing a trail at a time when the womenB次元官网网址檚 game was desperately looking for traction.

Wickenheiser, who has medical school exams Wednesday, put up 379 points in 276 games to help secure four straight Olympic golds (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014) as well as those seven world titles.

Named the MVP of both the 2002 and 2006 Olympic tournaments, the former centre is the seventh woman to be inducted into the hall.

B次元官网网址淭he first Olympics that we lost (in 1998) was not a fun one, but the four after that were some of the best experiences of my life,B次元官网网址� said Wickenheiser, who was CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flag-bearer for the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Games. B次元官网网址淥ne of the greatest honours IB次元官网网址檝e ever had was to put on that Canadian jersey.B次元官网网址�

Carbonneau, 59, won the Stanley Cup in 1986 and 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens, and again in 1999 with the Dallas Stars.

WATCH:

The native of Sept Iles, Que., was an attacking force in junior, but transitioned to the other side of the puck in the NHL, becoming one of the gameB次元官网网址檚 premiere shutdown centres on the way to winning the Selke Trophy as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 top defensive forward in 1988, 1989 and 1992.

Carbonneau, who retired in 2000 and waited 16 years before getting inducted in the hall, finished with 663 points in 1,318 regular-season games.

B次元官网网址淚 was dreaming about playing in the NHL, dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup, dreaming of scoring a goal in the playoffs,B次元官网网址� said Carbonneau, who added 93 playoff points. B次元官网网址淏ut being inducted in the Hall of Fame? Never in my wildest dreams.B次元官网网址�

A smooth-skating defenceman with terrific vision, Zubov played 12 of his 16 NHL seasons with Dallas, registering 771 points in 1,068 regular-season games. The 49-year-old Moscow product added 117 points in the post-season, helping the New York Rangers hoist the Stanley Cup in 1994 before doing it again with the Stars in 1999.

Zubov, who also won Olympic gold in 1992 with the Unified Team after the collapse of the Soviet Union, said he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to go to Dallas after getting dealt in 1996.

B次元官网网址淕et me traded,B次元官网网址� he recounted telling his agent. B次元官网网址淏ut (Stars GM) Bob Gainey did his homework and sent the most beautiful bouquet of flowers to my wife.

B次元官网网址淪he said, B次元官网网址楳aybe we should give it a try.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

An NHL goalie from 1970 to 1983, Rutherford was named GM of the Hartford Whalers in 1994. He stuck with the franchise when it moved to Carolina to become the Hurricanes, and built the roster that won the organizationB次元官网网址檚 only Cup in 2006.

The 70-year-old from Beeton, Ont., took on the same role with the Penguins in 2014 and helped guide Pittsburgh to titles in 2016 and 2017, making him the only GM to win Cups with two different teams since the league expanded in 1967.

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 let anyone tell you (that) you canB次元官网网址檛 do something, because that was the story of my career,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said. B次元官网网址淎nd the more they told me I couldnB次元官网网址檛 do things, the more it turned out that I did.B次元官网网址�

Nedomansky, 75, starred for 12 years in his native Czechoslovakia before becoming the first athlete from an Eastern European communist country to defect to North America to pursue a professional hockey career in 1974.

He played parts of three seasons in the World Hockey Association before jumping to the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings as a 33-year-old rookie.

B次元官网网址淚t was difficult, complicated, stressful,B次元官网网址� Nedomansky said of his decision to defect. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so happy that IB次元官网网址檓 here.B次元官网网址�

The 74-year-old York, whoB次元官网网址檚 in his 48th season behind the bench, owns five NCAA titles, including four with the Eagles, and has the most wins in U.S. college history.

B次元官网网址淚 just love coaching,B次元官网网址� said the native of Watertown, Mass. B次元官网网址滻 love the people we coach.B次元官网网址�

But the night really was about Wickenheiser, who concluded by addressing her five- and six-year-old nieces in the audience.

B次元官网网址淚f they decide to play hockey, they can walk into a hockey rink anywhere in Canada with a hockey bag and a hockey stick over their shoulder, and nobodyB次元官网网址檚 going to look twice,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址漈hey donB次元官网网址檛 have to cut their hair short and run into the bathroom and try to look like a boy like I had to do to blend in. The road is just a little bit easier. I want to thank everyone that made that road easier for me and is continuing to pave the way.

B次元官网网址淭he game is truly for everyone.B次元官网网址�

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .