Born: 1978 (Châteauguay, Quebec)
Biography:
Kim St-Pierre, born on December 14, 1978, in Châteauguay, Quebec, is a Canadian ice hockey player. Known for her exceptional skills in the net, she has achieved remarkable success throughout her career. St-Pierre is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a five-time IIHF world champion. Her contributions to the sport were recognized when she was announced as a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee on June 24, 2020.
St-Pierre first showcased her talent at McGill University, where she played for the McGill Martlets women’s ice hockey team. In her debut season in 1998-99, she was named the top rookie. Notably, she became the first woman in Canadian Interuniversity Sports history to win a men’s regular season game when McGill University defeated Ryerson University on November 15, 2003, with an impressive score of 5-2.
Internationally, St-Pierre represented Team Canada in several prestigious tournaments. She played a crucial role as the goaltender for the Canadian women’s ice hockey team in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, where she led her team to a historic 3-2 victory over Team USA in the gold medal final. St-Pierre’s skills and determination earned her a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics as well. In total, she holds numerous records in international competition, including the most shutouts (15), most wins (24), and lowest goals against average (0.84).
Beyond her success on the international stage, St-Pierre also contributed significantly to the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). She played for the Montreal Stars and was recognized as the CWHL Top Goaltender in the 2007-08 season. St-Pierre’s achievements reached their pinnacle in 2009 when she won the Clarkson Cup, adding to her already impressive collection of trophies, including the Olympic gold medals and a gold medal at the IIHF women’s world hockey championships.
St-Pierre’s dedication to the sport was truly unwavering. In 2011-12, she chose to sit out the Canada women’s national ice hockey team season and the CWHL season to focus on starting a family, further highlighting her commitment both on and off the ice.
Kim St-Pierre also made history in the world of men’s hockey. On October 23, 2008, she became the second woman in NHL history to play alongside NHL players during a practice session with the Montreal Canadiens. This experience was a testament to her skill and resilience, as she faced shots from some of the best players in the world, including a wrist shot from Alexei Kovalev and a slapshot from Francis Bouillon.
St-Pierre’s remarkable achievements and contributions to the sport have not gone unnoticed. In addition to her Hockey Hall of Fame induction, she was named to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2022, solidifying her status as a true trailblazer in women’s ice hockey.
Awards:
– CWHL Top Goaltender, 2007-08 and 2008-09
– CWHL First All-Star Team, 2008-09
– CWHL Eastern All-Stars, 2007-08
– CIAU Championship game Most Valuable Player in 2000
– CIS Most Outstanding Player in 2003
– Most Valuable Player, 2002 Esso Women’s Nationals
– Top Goaltender at the 2001 World Championships
– Top Goaltender at the 2004 World Championships
– Top Goaltender at the 2002 Winter Olympics