Hockey player Mélodie Daoust is retiring after a triumphant career that earned her numerous honors, including three Olympic medals.
The 32-year-old forward made the announcement on social media on Tuesday.
“Although I am emotional to say goodbye to the “Game” that I love so much, playing this wonderful sport has truly been one of the most beautiful journeys of my life,” she wrote in her publication.
Mélodie Daoust played her last game with the Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) last May. The single mother of a boy had signed a reserve contract with the Montreal team, which allowed her to play a total of six games and collect five points and two goals.
In her post, the player welcomed the creation of a women’s hockey league in Canada, which she sees as heralding a new era. “The future of women’s hockey is brighter than ever,” she wrote.
Mélodie Daoust participated in three Olympic Games, from which she emerged victorious with two gold medals and a silver medal. The player from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield also won gold at the 2021 World Championships, where she scored twelve points in eight matches, as well as a bronze medal in 2019.
The forward has garnered accolades throughout her career. In her early years, she played for the McGill University Martlets, despite numerous offers from American universities. She also made the Canadian university circuit all-star team at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
Since 2022, she has been at the helm of the women’s program at Collège Bourget alongside her partner Hanna Bunton, also a professional hockey player. An opportunity for the Olympic medallist to pass the torch to the next generation of players. “I look forward to giving back to the sport I love and inspiring young athletes to pursue their dream that is now within reach: playing women’s hockey,” wrote the player.
