CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada is proud to announce that earlier today, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) unveiled that women’s ice hockey player and two-time (1998, 2002) Olympic medalist Danielle Goyette (St-Nazaire, Que.) has been named Canada’s flag bearer for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremonies on February 10th in Turin, Italy.
"I am extremely honoured to have been selected as the flag bearer representing hockey, minor hockey players across the country, and all the Canadian athletes at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin,” said Goyette. “I am humbled to have been chosen and feel it is a tribute to our entire team. My teammates and I are all looking forward to making Canada proud in Turin.”
This will mark the first time a female hockey player has carried the flag for Canada at the Olympic Opening Ceremony and will mark the first time that a Canadian hockey player has carried the flag since Hubert Brooks did it at the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Other Canadian Hockey players to have carried the flag at the Olympic Winter Games are: Harold Simpson (1932), John Porter (1928), and Ernie Collett (1924).
An Olympic gold medallist in 2002 and a silver medallist at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games, Goyette, who turns 40 on Monday (January 30th), has been a member of the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team since the 1991-92 season, and is the second highest scoring player in the history of the Canadian National Women’s Team with 202 points in 156 international games.
Throughout her outstanding career, Goyette has represented Canada at more World Championships (8) than any other male or female player in the history of Canadian hockey. Over that time, she has won 21 international medals, including 17 gold. Apart from her success on the ice, Goyette has also received national praise for her charitable commitments and community involvement.
Goyette has spent numerous hours working with less privileged groups throughout Canada. Among her charitable endeavours, Goyette has painted the Calgary Safe Haven for troubled teens, cooked and served meals at the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary, helped build playgrounds for kids and served dinner to less fortunate families.
Goyette will be leading Canada’s team into the Olympic Stadium in Turin for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony on February 10th.
“We are very proud to have Danielle Goyette carry Canada’s flag into the opening ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games,” said Assistant Chef de Mission, Sylvie Bernier. “Over the course of her career, Danielle has distinguished herself as an outstanding Canadian through her accomplishments both on and off the ice and we look forward to her continuing to represent Canada with class and pride in Turin.”
Goyette was chosen to be the Canadian flag bearer by a selection committee comprising of 2006 Chef de Mission, Shane Pearsall, Bernier, two summer athletes chosen by the COC Athletes’ Council Executive Committee and a coach appointed by the coaches’ representative on the COC Executive Committee. Previous Canadian Olympic Winter Games flag bearers include Catriona Le May Doan (Salt Lake City 2002, long track speed skating, Saskatoon, Sask.), Jean-Luc Brassard (Nagano 1998, freestyle skiing, Grand-Île, Que.), Kurt Browning (Lillehammer 1994, figure skating, Caroline, Alta.), Sylvie Daigle (Albertville 1992, long track speed skating, Sherbrooke, Que.) and Brian Orser (Calgary 1988, figure skating, Orillia, Ont.).
“Hockey Canada is proud to have Danielle Goyette represent not only Hockey Canada and our Women’s Olympic hockey team, but all of the young boys and girls that play minor hockey across our country,” said Hockey Canada President, Bob Nicholson. “Danielle has shown leadership, character, and athletic ability throughout her international hockey career, and we are proud to have her lead the Canadian athletes during the opening ceremonies in Turin, Italy.”
DANIELLE GOYETTE’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS