When the Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways with player development director Scott Pellerin earlier this year, there were some whispers that the role would be filled by a “high-profile” name. That has certainly proven true, as today the team promoted Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser to senior director of player development. Wickenheiser will be joined by new director of player development Danielle Goyette. Skills coach Darryl Belfry will oversee the technical development, while Willy Sibley has been promoted to director of development operations and analysis.
Wickenheiser has been working with the team since 2018 as an assistant director of player development, while also completing her education at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. The legendary forward is arguably the greatest woman to ever play hockey and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Four Olympic golds, seven World Championship golds, an NWHL title, a CWHL title, and a CIS title, Wickenheiser did everything possible as a player. She is now crossing new bridges as an executive, once again paving the way for women that will come after her.
She won’t be doing it alone, as former national teammate Goyette joins the Maple Leafs after more than a decade as head coach of the University of Calgary. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, Goyette brings another two Olympic golds, eight World Championship golds, and an NWHL title as a player. It would be hard to find a more decorated pair.
So Wickenheiser stepped away from the game to become a Dr. and do more for people than just provide sports and entertainment as she explained in many biographies and any opportunities to the media, then as soon as she has an opportunity, she goes back to sports and entertainment she is back in?
I wouldn’t step away either if I was afforded the opportunity, but I also wouldn’t take my time away to brag about how better of a person I am because I am studying to become a dr so I can help people because that is my true desire, then immediately step away to get back into sports when the first opportunity is afforded… SMH Hayley. You’re better than this. At least we thought you were since you fought so hard to portray so.
obviously I’m guessing but as a senior director, I’m sure she can still be an ER doctor occasionally. may not be a full time gig but if she can be in the ER 2 shifts a week, that’s still helping.
The headline makes it sound like she’s gonna play for them lmao
Yep, toss her on a line with Thornton and Spezza. She is only a year older than Jumbo.
What is the greatest playoff matchup of all time? The leafs vs the first round…zing
Sorry, Leafs, Stanley Cups are not awarded to the most virtuous, woke team in the league. At least not yet.
I think Hayley is plenty qualified for the position, and has nothing to do with virtue signalling or wokeness. Same goes for Goyette.
They may be fine people, but not having played or coached in the NHL is a disadvantage as to being able to run a player development department. It just is.
Generally, an ER physician isn’t really meant to be a part-time gig. If anything, I’d expect her Leafs position to be more symbolic than anything. Being in the ER means a lot of “homework”, such as researching the latest medicines and surgical techniques, etc. This isn’t the same as being a specialist in cosmetic surgery.
Why not take Wickenheiser and the other female plants now on Leaf broadcasts and install them as a on ice Leaf line where they can show all of us their hockey superiority versus the males they
receive job preference over. With the amount of quality male talent available, ie a Nick Kypreos, for one excellent example, who was the genius responsible for the current approach which is killing the greatest game for me? Get your own league ladies. If you can find anyone who’ll pay you a nickel for a ticket. Or alternatively, form and fund your own team then issue open invites to winner take all challenges. I hope you do better than the U.S Women’s Soccer Team did recently against a boys team of 15 year olds.
Why bother to have any males involved? Shortage of fully qualified talent, maybe? But not likely. In fact, why not switch to all female on ice players as well? Will you buy a ticket? Political correctness is on the way to killing pro sports for me. And BTW, it’s not my fault that a team of 15 year old boys recently defeated tbe U.S. Women’s Soccer team which has at least one member spewing a never ending barrage of equal pay deserving nonsense.
“Why bother to have any males involved?” “In fact, why not switch to all female on ice players as well?”
Was Phil Kessel cut and replace by his sister, Amanda?
A person got hired for a mid level management job that has nothing to do with gender. Calm down, Bro. You are getting the vapors.
Lot of insecurity on display here.
Kyle Dubas can’t do more than 2 pushups, never played or coached in the NHL, might have never played anything more than Blades of Steel, gets named GM and no one says boo.
But, a Hockey Hall of Fame player who became a doctor in their spare time isn’t qualified for a player development job?
K.
For the record, I did say boo when he got hired. Open your ears.
Quite a difference between an NHL Hall of Famer and the newly carved of “Hockey Hall of Fame” catagory. But whatever, it’s all the same, right?
A) There is no NHL Hall of Fame. There is a Hockey Hall of Fame.
B) Lots of NHL front office people have never played in the NHL. Evidently, they are not qualified, should they be fired?
C) Some front office people have never even played hockey. Evidently, they are not qualified, should they be fired?
Ex.- Jason Karamnos was just a silver spoon whose only hockey qualifications was his dad owning a team, but he’s been hired many times without this (or any, really) level of outrage. Of course, he pees standing up, so he doesn’t threaten the men who are scared by the future, so…
A. I did not say “NHL Hall of Fame”. I said NHL Hall of Famers. Strike one.
B. Pointing out bad behavior doesn’t excuse other bad behavior. Who here hasn’t criticized the hires teams make in this league? Why should this hire be off limits from that same critique? Strike two.
C. See point B. Strike three.