Two-time Olympic gold medalist Mélodie Daoust retires at 32

One of the most dynamic players in the game is hanging up her skates for the last time.

On her X account, forward Mélodie Daoust announced she is retiring from playing hockey.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I make this decision,” Daoust said in the post. “As it signifies the close of a chapter overflowing with cherished memories, lifelong friendships, countless experiences, lessons and adventures that have shaped me into the person I am today.”

Daoust reflected on her career, and a number of the accomplishments she achieved. She thanked the coaches and teammates from her playing days at McGill University, Les Canadiennes, PWHL Montreal and Team Canada.

“I am emotional to put this book down…it was one of my favorites, but I can’t wait to pick up the next one and start writing a new story.”

The Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec native is one of the most decorated players in the modern age. Daoust burst onto the scene at the 2009 IIHF Women’s Under-18 World Championship, where she scored 12 points in five games, helping Canada win the silver medal. The following year, Daoust and the Canadians beat the United States to win the gold at the U18s for the first time.

The 2013-14 season was another great year for Daoust, as she made her senior national team appearance with Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics, winning gold. That spring, she helped McGill win its last USports national championship.

She became a national team mainstay in 2018, when she was named the MVP at the Pyeongchang Olympics, even though Canada lost to the U.S. in the gold medal game. Daoust wouldn’t taste gold again until the exciting 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship when she led the tournament in goals (6) and points (12). Her efforts helped Canada end a nine-year gold-less drought, earning MVP honors in the process.

Daoust was also on the Canadian squad that won gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

With the senior national team, which also included competing in the 2019-20 Rivalry Series, Daoust appeared in 55 games, scored 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points.

Professionally, Daoust played two seasons with the Montreal Canadiennes of the old Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She became a member of the Professional Women’s Hockey Player’s Association, playing in the Dream Gap Tour in three of the four seasons. Daoust was one of the players selected to play in the Elite Women’s 3-on-3 game at the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition. Her goal helped the Canadian All-Stars beat the Americans, 2-1.

When the PWHL launched, Daoust was signed by Montreal as a reserve player and though she played sparingly, she was an impactful player when she was in the lineup. She scored five points in six regular-season games, and was one of the better players during the team’s semifinal series against Boston.

Across the CWHL, PWHPA and PWHL, Daoust scored 16 goals and 36 points in 33 games.

Daoust will now fully focus on her job as head coach at Bourget College, which she began this past season. She said she looks forward to “contributing to the development of the next generation of PWHL players.”