THE CANADIAN PRESS
Hayley Wickenheiser’s teammates were celebrating the hockey star’s ranking of 20th on Sports Illustrated’s list of the 25 toughest athletes Thursday.
Wickenheiser, from Shaunavon, Sask., was the second of just two women on the list, coming in behind British triathlete Chrissie Wellington, who was No. 10.
Wickenheiser is captain of the Canadian women’s team currently in Harbin, China, preparing for the world championship that starts Friday.
"I think it’s great for our sport in general and it’s pretty cool it’s a Canadian girl," defenceman Carla MacLeod said. "Any time you can get our sport on a stage like that with Sports Illustrated, it’s awesome."
Golf superstar Tiger Woods was ranked first overall.
"Geez, only nineteen away. That’s about how many shots I’d be behind him on a hole," Wickenheiser joked Thursday.
"Just for them to pay attention and pick somebody in women’s hockey, you know you’re on the radar," she added. "I’m not really sure how they did it, but it’s nice."
Other hockey players chosen were Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara at No. 5 and Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios at No. 11.
"No player in women’s hockey drives to the net with such purpose and fury," SI’s website says of Wickenheiser. "Wickenheiser has grown from teen phenom to grande dame of Canadian hockey, carrying the weight of her country and game every time on the ice. Sadly, she isn’t allowed to body check."
Musher Lance Mackey was second, mixed martial arts fighter Anderson Silva was third, NFLer Bob Sanders was fourth and hulking Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara was fifth.
Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson was the top NBAer, at No. 7, while San Francisco Giants centre-fielder Aaron Rowand was the top baseball player, at No. 17.