Due To her husband, The all-time PWHL Boston player has announced her retirement
The 38-year-old made her Olympic Winter Games debut in 2008 with the National Women’s Team and went on to win back-to-back gold medals in 2010 and 2014. In addition, she won a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics. As a Team Canada defender, she ends her career tied for fifth place in all-time points and third in goals scored.
Additionally, Mikkelson competed in the IIHF Women’s World Championship eight times while donning the Maple Leaf. She earned two gold medals (2012, 2022) and six silver medals (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017), in addition to being named a member of the media all-star team in 2011 and receiving top defense honors. In addition, she competed four times in the 4 Nations Cup, where she took home two gold medals (2009, 2010) and two silver medals (2008, 2017). She joined the National Women’s Development Team of Canada in 2003 and went on to win three consecutive gold medals at the Air Canada Cup (2004, 2005, 2006).
Despite having a stellar career in the NHL, Mikkelson’s greatest achievement to date is her return to the national team following the birth of her two children. Towards the end of her career, she made remarkable comebacks and used her kids as motivation. She welcomed her daughter Berkley in 2019 and her son Calder in 2016.
“It has been nothing less than a dream come true, full of life-changing experiences, arduous triumphs, and priceless lessons that have molded me into the person I am today,” Mikkelson remarked. “The greatest honour has been winning eight medals at the Women’s Worlds and three Olympic medals with Team Canada. I am appreciative of every chance I have had to represent our wonderful nation abroad, and I will always treasure this honor.
In the Western Women’s Hockey League, Mikkelson played for two teams: the Edmonton Chimos (2007–09, 2010–11) and the Calgary Oval X-Treme (2002–03), with whom she shared the 2003 Esso Women’s Nationals championship. She also participated in four seasons (2011–13, 2015–17) of Canadian Women’s Hockey League play for the Calgary Inferno/Alberta HC, where she was named CWHL Defenseman of the Year in 2016–17 and won the Clarkson Cup in 2016. In addition, Mikkelson competed for Alberta in the 2003 Canada Winter Games.
