Canada's Cassie Campbell-Pascall (left) is welcomed into the IIHF Hall of Fame by IIHF President Luc Tardif at the 2026 induction ceremonies in Zurich, Switzerland.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Cassie Campbell-Pascall remains the only captain – either male or female – to lead Canada to two Olympic gold medals in hockey (Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006). So it was really just a matter of time before Campbell-Pascall, who also won six IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals between 1994 and 2006, was enshrined in the IIHF Hall of Fame.
The 52-year-old trailblazer joined an illustrious 2026 group of player inductees including the likes of fellow Canadian Patrice Bergeron, Austria’s Thomas Vanek, Sweden’s Niklas Kronwall, and Switzerland’s Andres Ambuhl and Florence Schelling. Throughout the summer, IIHF.com will feature interviews with each of the newly inducted members of the 2026 IIHF Hall of Fame, highlighting their remarkable careers and lasting impact on international hockey.
A longtime face of the women’s game in Canada, Campbell-Pascall recorded 41 points in 52 career Olympic and Women’s Worlds games. Since hanging up her skates 20 years ago, she hasn’t slowed down. The Calgary resident has forged an impressive broadcasting career, covering NHL and international games everywhere from Hockey Night in Canada to ESPN. Her memoir Just A Girl, co-authored with Sean Fitz-Gerald, comes out in October (Penguin Random House).
IIHF.com caught up with Campbell-Pascall after the induction ceremony in Zurich.
On how it feels to be inducted
It’s definitely emotional. Once the ceremony is over, you get a sense of relief. You get to reflect back on the things that you were able to accomplish with your teammates and your family. [This year’s group of inductees] is a really special group to be part of. I covered most of them and I played against Florence Schelling. So I’ve known these people for a long time, and I know how great they are, not only as players but as people.
On getting to meet Swiss great Andres Ambuhl, the all-time Men’s Worlds leader in games played
He was probably the only one I really didn’t know. Getting a chance to know him and his wife a little bit was special. I've been to the Spengler Cup three times and watched him play there. He has two daughters, so I was asking him if he’s going to put them in hockey. And of course, they’ll be able to do whatever they want to do. I think that’s really the special part, to watch these people interact with their families and share this special day with them.
On a big obstacle and a proud achievement that stand out from her hockey journey
At the 2004 Women’s Worlds, the Americans had scored a goal in the gold medal game, but we didn’t have video replay as the men did at that time. Canada went on to win the world championship [2-0], but it was definitely a goal. So Cammi Granato contacted me afterwards. She asked me to write a letter on Canada’s behalf, and she wrote a letter on the U.S.’s behalf, and lo and behold, we got video replay soon after that.
The 52-year-old trailblazer joined an illustrious 2026 group of player inductees including the likes of fellow Canadian Patrice Bergeron, Austria’s Thomas Vanek, Sweden’s Niklas Kronwall, and Switzerland’s Andres Ambuhl and Florence Schelling. Throughout the summer, IIHF.com will feature interviews with each of the newly inducted members of the 2026 IIHF Hall of Fame, highlighting their remarkable careers and lasting impact on international hockey.
A longtime face of the women’s game in Canada, Campbell-Pascall recorded 41 points in 52 career Olympic and Women’s Worlds games. Since hanging up her skates 20 years ago, she hasn’t slowed down. The Calgary resident has forged an impressive broadcasting career, covering NHL and international games everywhere from Hockey Night in Canada to ESPN. Her memoir Just A Girl, co-authored with Sean Fitz-Gerald, comes out in October (Penguin Random House).
IIHF.com caught up with Campbell-Pascall after the induction ceremony in Zurich.
On how it feels to be inducted
It’s definitely emotional. Once the ceremony is over, you get a sense of relief. You get to reflect back on the things that you were able to accomplish with your teammates and your family. [This year’s group of inductees] is a really special group to be part of. I covered most of them and I played against Florence Schelling. So I’ve known these people for a long time, and I know how great they are, not only as players but as people.
On getting to meet Swiss great Andres Ambuhl, the all-time Men’s Worlds leader in games played
He was probably the only one I really didn’t know. Getting a chance to know him and his wife a little bit was special. I've been to the Spengler Cup three times and watched him play there. He has two daughters, so I was asking him if he’s going to put them in hockey. And of course, they’ll be able to do whatever they want to do. I think that’s really the special part, to watch these people interact with their families and share this special day with them.
On a big obstacle and a proud achievement that stand out from her hockey journey
At the 2004 Women’s Worlds, the Americans had scored a goal in the gold medal game, but we didn’t have video replay as the men did at that time. Canada went on to win the world championship [2-0], but it was definitely a goal. So Cammi Granato contacted me afterwards. She asked me to write a letter on Canada’s behalf, and she wrote a letter on the U.S.’s behalf, and lo and behold, we got video replay soon after that.
When you look at where the game is now, I work part-time for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) as an advisor. That’s a dream come true. To watch this current generation be able to play professional women’s hockey is, I think, maybe one of my greatest accomplishments – just being a small part of helping that form.
On the historic legacy of the gold medal-winning 2002 Canadian Olympic team
The Americans beat us eight times [in exhibition play] that year, remember? And we only played them nine times, but we found a way to win that ninth time. I look back at that team, not only with what we accomplished on the ice and being the underdogs and winning the Olympics, but in terms of how it set the tone for the current generation. Every single woman from that team has given back to the game in some way. It made that team really special, not just leaving the legacy of winning, but also of growing our sport.
On a goal that stands out from her 14 Olympic and Women’s Worlds goals
I was an offensive defenceman who was asked to be a two-way forward throughout my career. You always remember your first goal. Mine was the 8-0 goal against Sweden [at the 1994 Women’s Worlds at age 18]. And Angela James came up to me as I celebrated exuberantly and said, “Hey, it's the eighth goal, kid.” So she reminded me to stay humble. But for me, it was more about winning than points, and the wins are what I remember most.
On the possibility of becoming a PWHL GM after watching ex-players like Meghan Duggan do so
I’m going to miss Meghan Duggan because we worked on a lot of projects together, but I’m so excited for her to get the opportunity. I love that former players have an opportunity now to come back into the game, and they're strong leaders. I’ve watched what Meghan's done on a daily basis with the New Jersey Devils and working part-time with me in the PWHL, and now she's going to be a general manager with Hamilton.
You know, I do want to win the Walter Cup one day. I don’t know how I'm going to do it, but I’d love to be a part of a team and win. But right now, I'm happy with the role that I have and watching my daughter grow up and play hockey. She – along with my husband’s career with the NHL and the Calgary Flames [assistant general manager Brad Pascall] – is my priority right now.
On the PWHL’s expansion to 12 teams for 2026-27
People ask, “Are we growing too fast?” But I think it’s important we’re doing it quickly. Expansion is a really difficult time for the players, because their futures are up in the air. They don't know where they're going to live. This rips the Band-Aid off, where hopefully it’s the last year for a while we’ll have to put our players and staff through expansion.
I also think going from six to eight to 12 teams quickly shows the commitment from our ownership in the Mark Walter Group.
On advice she’d give to young aspiring broadcasters
I learned this early on with Hockey Night in Canada: watch hockey. Watch the product. Don't just read everything, but form your own opinions. Work hard, be knowledgeable, and overprepare. I know I overprepared for sure, but that was sort of the Hockey Night in Canada way.
On the historic legacy of the gold medal-winning 2002 Canadian Olympic team
The Americans beat us eight times [in exhibition play] that year, remember? And we only played them nine times, but we found a way to win that ninth time. I look back at that team, not only with what we accomplished on the ice and being the underdogs and winning the Olympics, but in terms of how it set the tone for the current generation. Every single woman from that team has given back to the game in some way. It made that team really special, not just leaving the legacy of winning, but also of growing our sport.
On a goal that stands out from her 14 Olympic and Women’s Worlds goals
I was an offensive defenceman who was asked to be a two-way forward throughout my career. You always remember your first goal. Mine was the 8-0 goal against Sweden [at the 1994 Women’s Worlds at age 18]. And Angela James came up to me as I celebrated exuberantly and said, “Hey, it's the eighth goal, kid.” So she reminded me to stay humble. But for me, it was more about winning than points, and the wins are what I remember most.
On the possibility of becoming a PWHL GM after watching ex-players like Meghan Duggan do so
I’m going to miss Meghan Duggan because we worked on a lot of projects together, but I’m so excited for her to get the opportunity. I love that former players have an opportunity now to come back into the game, and they're strong leaders. I’ve watched what Meghan's done on a daily basis with the New Jersey Devils and working part-time with me in the PWHL, and now she's going to be a general manager with Hamilton.
You know, I do want to win the Walter Cup one day. I don’t know how I'm going to do it, but I’d love to be a part of a team and win. But right now, I'm happy with the role that I have and watching my daughter grow up and play hockey. She – along with my husband’s career with the NHL and the Calgary Flames [assistant general manager Brad Pascall] – is my priority right now.
On the PWHL’s expansion to 12 teams for 2026-27
People ask, “Are we growing too fast?” But I think it’s important we’re doing it quickly. Expansion is a really difficult time for the players, because their futures are up in the air. They don't know where they're going to live. This rips the Band-Aid off, where hopefully it’s the last year for a while we’ll have to put our players and staff through expansion.
I also think going from six to eight to 12 teams quickly shows the commitment from our ownership in the Mark Walter Group.
On advice she’d give to young aspiring broadcasters
I learned this early on with Hockey Night in Canada: watch hockey. Watch the product. Don't just read everything, but form your own opinions. Work hard, be knowledgeable, and overprepare. I know I overprepared for sure, but that was sort of the Hockey Night in Canada way.
Cassie Campbell-Pascal (left) converses with NHL coach Peter DeBoer (centre) and Dallas Stars director of hockey development Dwight Mullins (right) at the 2025 IIHF Global Hockey Forum in Nice, France.
Today, I’m just so proud of how many former women’s hockey players are involved in broadcasting, like Maria Rooth, Jennifer Botterill, and Cheryl Pounder.
On her forthcoming memoir Just a Girl
Sean Fitz-Gerald was the first person to ask me years and years ago to write a book, and I never felt comfortable doing it. I’m not sure how comfortable I still am, but here it is!
It’s more of a personal thing. It’s not a “rah-rah, look what I've done” book. I think if you ask any woman, they’ve been told at some point: “You’re just a girl, you can’t do [X or Y].” So they know what that message means. At the same time, I am just a girl from Brampton, Ontario, who grew up playing so many sports and ended up having a lucky and great career in hockey. The title has a double meaning.
On the Women’s Worlds returning to Canada in 2027 in Quebec City
I remember going to Quebec City to watch the Men’s Worlds in 2008. I hope that Marie-Philip Poulin and Ann-Renee Desbiens are still playing and that all the French-Canadians get an opportunity to potentially play a world championship in their home province. That'd be really special for them.
I love the way that the IIHF and the PWHL are working together to try to do what's best for women's hockey with the rescheduled timeframe. It’s exciting. Quebec City is amazing. That 2008 Men’s Worlds was amazing, and I think Women’s Worlds will be even better.
On her forthcoming memoir Just a Girl
Sean Fitz-Gerald was the first person to ask me years and years ago to write a book, and I never felt comfortable doing it. I’m not sure how comfortable I still am, but here it is!
It’s more of a personal thing. It’s not a “rah-rah, look what I've done” book. I think if you ask any woman, they’ve been told at some point: “You’re just a girl, you can’t do [X or Y].” So they know what that message means. At the same time, I am just a girl from Brampton, Ontario, who grew up playing so many sports and ended up having a lucky and great career in hockey. The title has a double meaning.
On the Women’s Worlds returning to Canada in 2027 in Quebec City
I remember going to Quebec City to watch the Men’s Worlds in 2008. I hope that Marie-Philip Poulin and Ann-Renee Desbiens are still playing and that all the French-Canadians get an opportunity to potentially play a world championship in their home province. That'd be really special for them.
I love the way that the IIHF and the PWHL are working together to try to do what's best for women's hockey with the rescheduled timeframe. It’s exciting. Quebec City is amazing. That 2008 Men’s Worlds was amazing, and I think Women’s Worlds will be even better.