Danièle Sauvageau
Danièle Sauvageau, is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former coach, and former police officer. Sauvageau was the head coach of the Canadian national women's hockey team which won the gold medal in ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Early life
Originally from Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, Sauvageau was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal for 24 years, serving five years in the narcotics division. As a Police Sergeant, she has also performed undercover narcotics investigations, busted a squad car full of drug dealers, and even ordered a forced entry and rescue of a double agent whose life was in jeopardy.Hockey
Sauvageau was the head coach for the Ferland Quatre Glaces team in the League Régionale du Hockey au Féminin in the province of Québec. When the Canadian Under 19 women’s hockey team was founded on May 15, 1996, Danielle Sauvageau was the head coach. Two future Olympians played for her:Caroline Ouellette and speed skater Cindy Klassen. As Head Coach of the first Canadian Olympic hockey team to win gold in 50 years, Sauvageau became a Canadian hero. Sauvageau was named Head Coach of Canada's National Women's Hockey Team for the 2001 World Hockey Championship and the 2002 Winter Olympics on June 22, 2000.Sauvageau has worked at almost every level of hockey open to female coaches. After the disappointing silver medal showing at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Sauvageau was named the new head coach of the team and general manager of the Canadian female hockey program. It was a rough ride, with seven straight losses to the U.S. team prior to the Olympics. However, her team-building methods and leadership skills led the team to an extraordinary gold medal victory.
In 1999-2000, she became an assistant coach for the Montreal Rocket of the QMJHL. She was the first female coach in QMJHL history. Sauvageau was the first female NHL Saturday Night Hockey TV analyst for Canada’s French station Télévision de Radio-Canada and is the new official spokesperson for the Coaching Association of Canada. She was a member of the successful bid committee for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic bid.
As part of the IIHF Ambassador and Mentor Program, Sauvageau was a Hockey Canada coaching mentor that travelled to Bratislava, Slovakia to participate in the 2011 IIHF High Performance Women's Camp from July 4–12.
As of 2010, she is the general manager of the Montreal Carabins women's ice hockey program.
Education
She is a graduate of the Université de Montréal and of the RCMP Academy, Depot Division. She was a Sergeant in the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal.Awards and honors
- Sauvageau received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from Saint Mary's University in October 2002 for her leadership in international athletics
- In 2004, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross.
- In 2008, Sauvageau was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
- She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada as per Canada Gazette of 6 July 2013.
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Order of Canada |
| |
| Meritorious Service Cross | ||
| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | ||
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | ||
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal |