CALGARY – Heading into her fifth Winter Olympics, former University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey forward Hayley Wickenheiser has earned one of the most prestigious honours an athlete can receive.

Wickenheiser will lead the Canadian delegation into the opening ceremony next month in Sochi, Russia as the nation's flag bearer, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Thursday on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

"This is an incredible honour and one that means so much to me after having represented Canada in hockey for so many years," Wickenheiser told the COC's website. "Today, I have been chosen as Canada's flag bearer, but today is about carrying the hopes and dreams of nearly 35 million Canadians to Sochi. I can't wait to lead an amazing group of athletes who have dedicated their lives to achieving their Olympic dreams for both themselves and Canada."

Heading into her fifth Winter Olympic experience, Wickenheiser has led Canada to a silver medal in women's hockey in 1998 followed by a trifecta of gold in 2002, 2006, and 2010 at home in Vancouver – where Wickenheiser took the athletes' oath at the opening ceremony. On the national team since the age of 15, Wickenheiser is Canada's all-time leader in goals, assists, points, games played, and medals won, and she has twice been named MVP of the Olympic tournament. The 35-year-old also competed in the Summer Olympics in 2000, representing Canada in softball in Sydney, Australia.

Following her 2010 gold medal, Wickenheiser returned to school at the University of Calgary and began playing for the Dinos in the 2010-11 season for her former teammate – and Canada's 2006 flag-bearer – Dinos head coach Danielle Goyette. Goyette, a three-time Olympian herself, is an assistant coach on Canada's Olympic women's hockey team.

In just three seasons with the Dinos, Wickenheiser scored 115 points to become the program's all-time leader. She was named the CIS player of the year in 2011, was an All-Canadian each of her three seasons with the team, and led the Dinos to their first-ever Canada West and CIS championships in 2012.

Wickenheiser was a star in the classroom for the Dinos as well, recording back-to-back appearances as the top female academic student-athlete in the conference in 2011 and 2012. She was named Capital One Academic All-America® of the year in 2012, and she graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in May 2013.

"Hayley represents the very best in the combination of academic and athletic success," said Ron Wuotila, director of athletics. "In her time with the Dinos she inspired all of us with her work ethic and dedication on the ice and in the classroom, and I know she will inspire the nation as she carries Canada's flag in Sochi. We wish her and all of Team Canada the very best of luck."

The XXII Olympic Winter Games begin Feb. 6 in Sochi, with the opening ceremony set for 8 a.m. MT on Friday, Feb. 7.

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