Shannon Szabados earns celebrated spot in Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame

One of the most influential and celebrated goaltenders of her generation, the most recent post-playing honour for Shannon Szabados may hold the most emotion. Gaining entry into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, the induction represents a proud feeling of full circle. Born in Edmonton, the 2007 Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Goaltender of the Year is also the only goaltender to win two Winter Games gold medals as a starter.

For a three-time Olympian, also recognized as the Women’s Hockey Life Player of the Decade for the 2010s, it was only fitting that she first captured the imagination of the Alberta hockey community in 2002, a year which saw Canada enjoy double gold in ice hockey at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games.

January 2002 saw the 15-year-old Szabados make history, signing with the AJHL Sherwood Park Crusaders. Fast forward to October 2 of that year, Szabados proved her mettle, blanking the Bonnyville Pontiacs with an impressive 8-0 shutout. Coincidentally, her AJHL career included a stint with the Pontiacs, along with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders.

Belonging to a distinguished 2024 Hall of Fame Class, Szabados is joined by the likes of Billy Dea, one of the ironmen of the AHL with the Buffalo Bisons, Dave King, Canada’s head coach for the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, plus Kelly Kisio, who played in the San Jose Sharks inaugural season. Coincidentally, Szabados also played in Buffalo, guarding the crease for the Beauts in the Premier Hockey Federation.

Worth noting, the two remaining inductees, Craig MacTavish and Jarome Iginla, hold a unique linkage to Szabados. MacTavish, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, and the last NHLer not to wear a helmet, invited Szabados to join the Edmonton Oilers for a practice in March 2014. With due deference, she deserved an opportunity to be named an emergency goalie for the Oilers, a social media campaign even germinating. Remaining dignified throughout, it stands as one of the most admirable qualities of her career. In addition, Jarome Iginla, whose NHL career spanned 20 years, like Szabados, also participated in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, another exciting moment which saw Canada’s hockey teams claim double gold.

Renowned as a player who broke barriers, having played among men in the AJHL, Western Hockey League, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, and the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), the most remarkable facet of Szabados’ career is the number of new fans made along each stop. Although she may be a household name for Canadian hockey fans, her greater legacy may be that of role model for young female players from coast to coast.

Considering that the induction of Szabados made national news, her pioneering legacy is enhanced by the presence of other celebrated women in the Alberta Hall. Such a group includes Shirley Cameron, Cassie Campbell, Mel Davidson, who coached Szabados at Vancouver 2010, Anne Hayden, Karen Kost, Loretta Normandeau, Suzanne Triance-Wright and Eileen Yewchuk, Worth noting, female teams inducted include the likes of the 1985 Edmonton Chimos and 1991 Team Alberta Female.

Although every new chapter for Szabados brought with it a degree of pressure, the feeling to prove herself all over again, one element that remained constant was the sense of admiration and respect among fans. Even in the SPHL, standing between the pipes with the Columbus Cottonmouths, her bobblehead doll a prized collector’s item, Canadian hockey fans quickly became interested in the league. After making history as the first female goaltender to log a shutout in professional men’s ice hockey, blanking the Huntsville Havoc by a 3-0 mark in December 2015, the feat was reported by the CBC.

Becoming a national treasure after the heroics of the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games, Szabados is poised to remain both icon and hero for a new generation of fans, male and female. Just like Szabados breaking ground served as homage to Manon Rheaume, plus Danielle Dube, another accomplished Western Canadian goalie who once played pro for the San Diego Gulls, a new generation is paying it forward.

Building on the empowering legacy established by the likes of Szabados, Rheaume, Dube and others, it was compelling and heartwarming to see another pair of female goaltenders make their mark.  Eve Gascon played for the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, while the Sarnia Sting selected Taya Currie in the Ontario Hockey League player draft.

While there will be many more accolades to come, Szabados is happy in her mom era. Enjoying the opportunity to share the ice with her young daughter, donning an orange Oilers jersey, the love of the game never withers. Neither will the appreciation of fans wither, as the heroics attained shall forever represent inspiration and celebration.