Hayley Wickenheiser couldn't initially be informed that she was one of this year's Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.
The Canadian hockey legend was taking a medical school exam and would've received a failing grade had she used her phone, Lanny McDonald, the Hall's chairman of the board, told reporters on the conference call celebrating the 2019 class Tuesday, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
"We wouldn't want her to fail," McDonald said, according to the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby.
Wickenheiser later emerged from the exam and caught up on the outpouring of support and congratulatory messages.
Just stepped out of a med school course to the news. A huge honour and dream come true for a little girl from Shaunavon, Sask.. Congrats to Guy,Sergei,Vaclav,Jim and Jerry. Thank you for all the kind words. #HHOF2019 pic.twitter.com/HioA3rt26R
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) June 25, 2019
Wickenheiser, arguably the greatest women's hockey player of all time, will be inducted alongside Guy Carbonneau, Sergei Zubov, and Vaclav Nedomansky, as well as builders Jim Rutherford and Jerry York.
A student at the University of Calgary, Wickenheiser graduated with a kinesiology degree in 2013. She retired from professional hockey in 2017 to enter medical school.
The Toronto Maple Leafs named her assistant director of player development last August.
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