The Power of Pink. Did you know that in 1990 Canada's National Women's hockey
team made pink powerful - Globally! Like so many young girls Cathy Phillips love for
hockey started with playing road hockey with neighbourhood Burlington kids. The
Burlington Central High School grad was a multi-sport athlete in basketball and track
and field, but hockey was her passion. Ultimately she became the best hockey
goaltender in the world.
ln 1987- the first "unofficial" Women's World Championships were held. As goaltender
in those championships, Cathy was named the Outstanding Goalie of the tournament as
she backstopped Canada to the Gold Medal. ln 1990, the first "official" women's world
championships that was sanctioned by the lnternational lce Hockey Federation (llHF)
she again was between the pipes for Team Canada recording a tournament
goals-against average of 1.15 as Canada defeated the US 5-2 in the gold medal game.
Her 'pink" jersey from that tournament is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
As the women's game of hockey progressed at the local and national level, Cathy won
gold in the inaugural Esso Women's Nationals in 1982. She played in six subsequent
national tournaments and came away with 3 more gold medals, a silver and 2 bronze.
Cathy began playing in the Central Ontario Women's Hockey League when she was 13.
She played in the league for 17 years and was named the top goalie an amazing 14
limes and was twice named league MVP. She is considered the most distinguished
goalie to ever play in that league.
It is our assertion that if Women's hockey had been in the Olympics in the 1980's and
1990's Cathy Phillips would have been an Olympian and a gold medalist, but the true
impact of this great athlete was her inspiration for future generations.
ln her postcareer, Cathy was honoured for her contribution to women's hockey with the
lsobel Gathorne.Hardy Award in 2005. Gathorne-Hardy was a pioneer of women's
hockey in Canada and subsequent winners include Canadian Olympic heroes Caroline
Ouelette and Marie-Phillippe Poulin. She also won the female breakthrough award in
2009.
Cathy's idol was Vladislav Tretiak and she was thrilled to meet the goaltending icon as
he came to watch her play a game in Toronto.
After her career Cathy gave back to the game as she served as an assistant coach for
Team Ontario at the 1995 Canada Games and has acted as a clinician, motivational
speaker, and mentor.
Cathy Phillips is listed among famous Burlingtonians by Tourism Burlington and now
she is a Hall of Famer. The Burlington Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct a true
legend, Cathy Phillips, into the athlete category.