Courtesy of Andre Ringuette/HHOH-IIHF Images
At just 26 years old, Canadian hockey player Claire Thompson has already achieved remarkable things, from her athletic excellence to her academic ambition. She’s established her reputation as a star both on and off the ice. Now in her rookie season with the reigning champions, the Minnesota Frost, Thompson’s journey to professional hockey has been anything but ordinary.
Thompson’s interest in hockey started at the age of 4, having learned to skate the year before. Her dreams to represent her country began after witnessing the women’s hockey team in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games win a gold medal, and by the time she reached her teenage years, Thompson was already making a name for herself as a promising young defender. She gained recognition for her talent and began to prosper in the hockey world.
Thompson’s hockey career took off during her collegiate years at Princeton University, where she played NCAA Division I women’s hockey. During her tenure with the Princeton Tigers, she cemented herself in their history as one of the program’s all-time greats. She finished fifth all-time in career points by a defender, and in her senior season, she captained the Tigers to their first-ever ECAC championship, an incredible achievement for her and her team. Thompson completed her collegiate career with a seemingly never-ending list of athletic and academic accomplishments. After graduating, she joined Toronto in the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association for the 2021 Dream Gap Tour.
Courtesy of Shelley M. Szwast
Her collegiate success paved the way for even greater achievements on the international stage. Thompson was a standout performer for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she played a key role in securing a gold medal for her country. Her exceptional play earned her a spot on the Olympic all-star team after she tallied two goals and 11 assists in just seven games. She also recorded a tournament-best plus-minus rating of +23. Thompson added a gold medal to her collection at the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship, along with a silver medal at the 2023 tournament.
Despite her impressive and rapid rise in the hockey world, Thompson decided to take a step back from the sport during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons to focus on another passion: medicine. As a full-time student at the NYU School of Medicine, she devoted herself to preparing for a post-hockey career in health care. After initially planning to remain in school to continue her degree, Thompson made the decision to declare for the 2024 PWHL draft, where she was selected third overall by the Minnesota Frost. Now wearing No. 42 for the Frost, she continues to prove that her time away from the game has not slowed her down.
Courtesy of Instagram @pwhl_frost
Thompson’s decision to prioritize academics while pursuing hockey demonstrates her dedication to excellence and success in all areas of her life. Balancing her career ambitions with medicine and professional sports is no small task, but it is a challenge she has embraced with both determination and grace.
As she embarks on her rookie season in the PWHL, Thompson continues to inspire as a leader both on and off the ice. She is proof that hockey players don’t have to be just hockey players. Her journey from Princeton to Olympic gold to professional women’s hockey exemplifies a commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to be an athlete. For Claire Thompson, success is not just in a single area of her life but rather about making an impact wherever she ends up.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano
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