Three-time Olympic gold medallist Kim St. Pierre has officially retired from the Canadian women's hockey team.
The 34-year-old from Chateauguay, Quebec has not played for Team Canada since the 2011 World Championships. She took the 2011-12 season off to have a baby. She returned this past season to play for the Montreal Stars of the Canadian Women's Hockey League
St. Pierre won Olympic gold in 2002, 2006 and 2010. She was Canada's starting goaltender in world championship finals from 2001 to 2008 and was named the tournament's top goalie in both 2001 and 2004. In her nine world championships, she won gold five times. She retires as Canada's all-time leading goaltender in games (83), wins (64) and shutouts (29).
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"Being part of three Olympic teams and nine world championship teams, I think I accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish," St. Pierre told The Canadian Press. "That's why I retire today with a big smile."
The highlight of her career had to be her 25-save performance in the final of the 2002 Olympic women's hockey tournament. Canada won women's Olympic hockey gold for the first time in an emotional 3-2 win over the United States in Salt Lake City. That win also snapped Canada's eight-game losing streak against the Americans.
"The 2002 Olympics I think will always be the favourite moment of my career," she said. "To be able to come back from eight losses against the U.S. and winning against them and getting my first gold medal with my parents being in the stands, I think that will always be my favourite memories of all my years with Team Canada."
St. Pierre is pursuing a career in real estate and will be growing her family in the future. She may do television work for major women's hockey tournaments such as the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
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