Claire Thompson, 28, a long time member of Canada's national women's hockey team, who played last season for the PWHL's Vancouver Goldeneyes, has retired to pursue her career as a orthopedic surgeon.
Claire Thompson, 28, has officially announced her retirement from hockey to begin her career in medicine. Thompson is a long time member of Canada's national team winning Olympic gold in 2022 and silver in 2026.
The former Olympic All-Star, who spent last season as a member of the PWHL's Vancouver Goldeneyes, shared her retirement on social media and in an exclusive with the New York Times.
"Hockey, ily forever ❤️24 seasons later, I’m officially retired. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey!" she wrote on Instagram.
Thompson joined the PWHL in the league's second season after taking a year away to continue her studies during the league's inaugural season.
In her first season in the PWHL, Thompson was named a PWHL Second Team All-Star and won a Walter Cup as a member of the Minnesota Frost while scoring 18 points in 30 games.
Last season after joining the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes, Thompson had 17 points in 28 games.
As Thompson told the New York Times, she's leaving hockey to begin the next stage of her career as an orthopedic surgeon.
“A career in medicine has always been an overarching goal of mine and I feel that now is the best time in my life to step away from hockey,” she told the New York Times. “I have achieved far more than I could have ever hoped for and I feel like I’m ready to step away and continue on the long road ahead of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.”
Thompson, a Toronto product, is an alumni of Princeton.
