Claire Thompson Retires at 28, Trading PWHL Blue Line for Medical School

Claire Thompson has retired from hockey at 28 and will resume her studies at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, ending a career that joined Olympic gold, a Walter Cup championship and a foundational role with the Vancouver Goldeneyes. The Toronto native announced the decision Thursday, choosing the long road toward becoming an orthopedic surgeon while she was still capable of playing at the sport’s highest level.

Thompson had completed two years of medical school before pausing her studies in 2024 to commit fully to hockey. “After two years of medical school, I was very confident that I wanted to become a surgeon, and that is at minimum a five-year residency program,” she told Canadian Press. She is expected to graduate in 2027. “I know that I’m still physically able to play,” she said, closing the door on another professional season rather than stretching the transition between two demanding careers.