Hayley Wickenheiser is making another attempt at men’s professional hockey.

She has consistently pushed the envelope for what is possible for female hockey players and female athletes alike.

The biggest reason she has stayed at the top of the women’s game for the last 15 years is also the most important thing girls’ hockey players must to get to the elite level.

***You Must Have a Burning Desire To Get Better***

Wickenheiser believes that playing in Sweden this winter make her a better player as she prepares for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

“For me, I’m always looking to push myself and become better and I felt like I needed to get out of my comfort zone again,” she explained. “Repetition and working on your skill set at a high level and a high speed against players who are bigger, stronger and faster is always a good thing…It made me a better player the first time I went over and I expect it to be the same this time.”

That burning desire to improve, even though she is already at the top of the female hockey food chain, is the reason that she has been able to stay there for so long. She never takes the easy way out and is constantly looking for ways to take her game to the next level.

Her commitment to excellence is unparalleled and she always rises up to the challenge.

Hayley reports back to Sweden at the end of August to prepare for the upcoming year, so the next month of off-ice training is critical.

Her immediate challenge is to stay in shape in Beijing while she provides colour commentary for Olympic softball.

Since she is not an Olympian this time around, it will be a little harder to find training facilities. She would love to use the athletes’ areas, but isn’t sure that they will be too receptive to having a member of the media in their midst.

“If that doesn’t work, I’m going to have a program set up where if I don’t have access to a weight room, I’ll do skating imitations or running. I’ve been creative before, so if I’m working out in my hotel room or running down the streets of Beijing, I guess that’s what I’m going to have to do.”

It’s just another challenge that Hayley will undoubtedly overcome.

The mark of true champion of women’s hockey and great role model for young female athletes everywhere.

Bottom line: Dream big dreams and do whatever it takes to make them come true.

Kim