Coaches of Canada would like to take opportunity to recognize and congratulate Danièle Sauvageau on her recent induction into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

Danièle Sauvageau (women’s hockey coach, Deux-Montagnes, Que.) was head coach and general manager of the Canadian national women’s hockey team when it won gold at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Sauvageau was assistant coach at the previous Games in Nagano where the team captured silver. Overall, Sauvageau coached with the national team from 1994 to 2002. She also guided the team to two world championship gold medals in 1999 and 2001. She was named coach of the year in 1999 by the Coaching Association of Canada and by the Gala Sports Québec in 1995, 2000 and 2002. The Montreal YMCA named her woman of the year in 2000 and Saint Mary’s University bestowed her an honorary doctorate in 2002. The 22-year police veteran was the first woman to coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when she joined the Montreal Rocket for the 1999-2000 season.

On Saturday April 12th, 2008 the Canadian Olympic Committee welcomed six inductees into their Hall of Fame. Along with Danièle, Catriona Le May Doan, The RCAF Flyers, Guillaume Leblanc, Frank King, Bill Warren and Barbara Ann Scott were also honoured that evening.

We are proud to have Danièle on our Board of Directors for what she has done for Women’s hockey not only in this country but around the world. Congratulations Danièle!

*Article and photos courtesy of the Coaching Association of Canada