Claire Thompson announced her retirement from the PWHL, marking the end of a groundbreaking run in Canada women's hockey and beyond. The Vancouver Goldeneyes defender helped the PWHL expansion franchise through its debut season, before stepping away from the sport.
Her next step? She plans to head back to NYU Grossman to finish her medical degree, with orthopedic surgery as her focus.
Inside PWHL Star Claire Thompson's Olympics Career with Canada
Thompson leaves behind one of the most decorated careers in the sport. At Beijing 2022, she posted 13 points as a defender — the most ever posted by a hockey player in her position in one Games. Her performance helped Canada capture gold that year.
She added a silver medal at the 2026 Milan Games, finishing with 17 points across 14 Olympic appearances, more than any defender has recorded in Olympic play.
Before arriving in Vancouver, Minnesota selected Thompson third overall in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She helped the Frost win the 2025 Walter Cup, then became the PWHL expansion club's inaugural signing and an alternate captain. In 28 games with the Goldeneyes, she recorded 13 assists and four goals during the club's debut season.
Why Claire Thompson Is Leaving Hockey for Medicine
Despite still performing at a high level on the ice, Thompson says the timing of her retirement felt right.
"A career in medicine has always been an overarching goal of mine," she said. "I feel very content and ready for this next chapter of my life."
Thompson plans to use her degree to help fellow women's sports athletes in their own professional journeys.
