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June 19, 2018

Florence Schelling Retires

One of the greatest hockey players retired this month, but barely anyone noticed.

While most of the hockey world was following the Stanley Cup final and now the NHL draft, free agency, awards and the Ottawa Senators scandal, Florence Schelling retired.

Schelling is arguably the greatest female goaltender of all time, and almost certainly the greatest female hockey player from outside of North America.

The Zurich born goalie had been a part of the Swiss national women's hockey team since the age of 14. At the 2004 World Championship the kid posted a 4-0 shutout against Japan and posted 30 saves in a 2-1 loss to Russia. She never looked back. 

Two years later she debuted at the Olympics. The 16 year old represented Switzerland at the Torino games. It was the first of four Olympic experiences for Schelling.

By the age of 18 she came to America on a scholarship to play at Northeastern University in Boston, posting 49 wins and 18 shutouts in 98 career games.

The highlight of her career came in 2014 as she spectacularly backstopped Switzerland to the bronze medal at the Sochi Olympics. She was named a tournament all star, tournament MVP and the tournament's best goaltender.

Schelling, who played professionally in womens leagues in Canada and Europe as well as a men's league in Switzerland, also played in 10 world championships. In fact she retires as the all time leader in wins, games played, tournaments played and assists by a goaltender.

She is also the all time leader by female goaltenders for wins at the Olympics.


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