By Hockey Canada

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that four members of its 2010 Olympic gold medal-winning National Women’s Team – Becky Kellar, Gina Kingsbury, Carla MacLeod and Colleen Sostorics – have announced their retirements from international hockey.

All four players played their final international game on February 25 in Canada’s 2-0 victory over the United States in the gold medal game of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. The Olympic gold medal was the third for Kellar and Sostorics, and second for Kingsbury and MacLeod. Kellar also won a silver medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

“On behalf of Hockey Canada and Canadian hockey fans everywhere, I want to thank Becky, Gina, Carla and Colleen for their dedication to the national team program,” said Hockey Canada president & CEO Bob Nicholson. “While the success that they have all achieved on the ice will stand the test of time, we must also recognize the role that they have played and will continue to play in growing women’s hockey in Canada and around the world, as great role models and ambassadors of the female game.”  

Becky Kellar is one of only four Canadian women’s players, along with Jennifer Botterill, Jayna Hefford and Hayley Wickenheiser, to play in all four Olympics that have included women’s hockey (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010). A member of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 1997, Kellar also owns four IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medals (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004) and two world championship silver medals (2008, 2009). The defenceman concludes her international career with 52 points (13 goals, 39 assists) in 173 games, finishing as the fourth-highest scoring blue liner in Canadian history.

Although she is retiring from the international game, Kellar will continue to play club team hockey, taking to the ice in the 2010-11 season with Burlington of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. The Hagersville, Ont. native has played for Burlington since 1997. Kellar, along with former National teammate Cheryl Pounder, is also involved in running a number of hockey schools in Ontario.

Gina Kingsbury joined Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2000-01 season, winning three IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medals (2001, 2004, 2007) and three world championship silver medals (2005, 2008, 2009), in addition to her two Olympic gold medals. A native of Rouyn-Noranda, Que., Kingsbury recorded 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 116 international games, good for 13th all-time statistics among Canadian women.

While her playing career is done, Kingsbury has remained involved in the game. She is now serving as an assistant coach with the female hockey program at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C.

Carla MacLeod debuted for Canada’s National Women’s Team in 2003, scoring a goal in her first international game at the 2003 4 Nations Cup. In total, she scored 14 goals and added 30 assists for 44 points in 81 games for Canada, helping it to one IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medal (2007) and two Olympic gold medals. Her resume also includes three world championship silver medals (2005, 2008, 2009) and four seasons with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team (1999-2003), the last one as captain. The Calgary, Alta., native was named to the media all-star team at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, and earned the same honour at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championship.

MacLeod is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Mount Royal University female hockey program, and is looking to work in broadcasting, having already served as colour commentator on television in Madison, Wis. during her final year at the University of Wisconsin.

Colleen Sostorics finishes her Team Canada career as the third-highest scoring defenceman in National Women’s Team history; her 57 points (14 goals, 43 assists) trails only Geraldine Heaney and Therese Brisson. A three-time IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medallist (2001, 2004, 2007) and three-time Olympic gold medallist, the native of Kennedy, Sask., also played three seasons (1998-2001) with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team, serving as captain in 2000-01.

Sostorics continues to do speaking engagements and plans to stay involved in sports in some capacity.

Canada’s National Women’s Team will hold its first camp of the 2010-11 season from September 22-26 in Calgary. The camp will be the first step on the road to the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship, which will be held next April in Switzerland. A camp roster and schedule will be released in the coming days.