Music: {allcanada} Wickenheiser honoured with Order of Canada

Thursday, June 30, 2011

{allcanada} Wickenheiser honoured with Order of Canada

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OTTAWA -- Hayley Wickenheiser can add the Order of Canada to her brimming trophy shelf.

The country's top female hockey player was among 50 appointments made by Governor General David Johnston on Thursday. She'll take part in an Order of Canada ceremony at a later date.

The recognitions comes "for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women's hockey."

Wickenheiser has competed at the last four Winter Olympics, winning three gold medals and one silver. She was twice named tournament MVP during those events.

The native of Shaunavon, Sask., started competing with the national team at age 15 in 1993 and has been a fixture ever since.

Wickenheiser captured the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press female athlete of the year in 2007 and was named one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Hockey" by The Hockey News earlier this year.

She is also active with the "Right To Play" charity and is currently in Accra, Ghana, on a visit as an athlete ambassador.

"I want to thank all of you for your support," said Wickenheiser. "I'm very honoured to also receive the Order of Canada and thank organizations like Right To Play that have given me the chance to work with them."