Defender Claire Thompson, the first Canadian woman to join the Triple Gold Club at the age of 27, today confirmed her retirement from hockey just one year later, hanging up her skates to pursue a medical career full-time.

An NCAA standout at Princeton, Thompson was drafted third overall by Minnesota in the 2024 PWHL Draft, helping backstop the Frost to the Walter Cup in 2025. Thompson, who spent two seasons in the PWHPA before a year-long sabbatical for medical school, would only end up spending two pro seasons in the PWHL, moving to Vancouver in the 2026 Expansion Draft. In 58 career pro games, Thompson amassed eight goals and 35 points between her stints with the Frost and Goldeneyes, also notching six points in eight games (including four in the Walter Cup Final) en route to Minnesota’s 2025 title.

Thompson’s pro career, however, was arguably outshined by her international career, where she debuted for the senior national team in 2019 at age 21, followed up by Gold at her World Championship debut in 2021. Her greatest international achievement would follow at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, leading the tournament in defender points (13) and plus-minus (+23) in only seven games, capturing Olympic Gold and being named to the tournament all-star team. Thompson would amass Silver medals at the Worlds (2023, 2025) and Olympics (2026), with the Milan Games serving as her final Team Canada appearance.

Over her brief yet illustrious career, Thompson would capture the IHLC six times, the first coming in 2019, with her final coming not even six years later in 2025. We wish Claire and her family the very best for her retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: Princeton University – IIHF – HHOF – IOC