CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that Delaney Collins, a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 1999 and a three-time IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medallist, is retiring from international competition.

A native of Pilot Mound, Man., Collins played 95 games in a Team Canada jersey and sits among the top ten in scoring by a defenceman, recording 39 points (eight goals, 31 assists). Centralized prior to the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games, she won nine gold medals with Canada’s National Women’s Team, including three at the IIHF World Women’s Championship (2000, 2004, 2007) and six at the 3 Nations/4 Nations Cup (2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009). Collins was also a three-time silver medallist, twice at the IIHF World Women’s Championship (2005, 2008) and at the 2003 4 Nations Cup, and won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team at the 1998 Christmas Cup.

She was named to the Media All-Star Team in her home province at the 2007 IIHF World Women’s Championship and was named Manitoba’s top female athlete in 2007.

Collins will remain in the game as an assistant coach with the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team beginning this fall.

“I will always be thankful for the memories I have from my years with Team Canada, and for the friends I have made,” said Collins. “Thank you to my teammates, coaches and everyone who has supported me over the years. I look forward to the next stage of my career, to be able to teach the game as a coach using the experience I have gained in a Team Canada jersey.”

“Delaney has dedicated the last 12 years of her life to Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, and we are sad to see her step away from the international game,” said Kalli Quinn, director of female national teams for Hockey Canada. “We wish her the best of luck with the next step in her career and look forward to working with her in the future to continue to grow the women’s game.”

The fifth-overall selection in the first-ever CWHL Draft in 2010, Collins helped Brampton reach the Clarkson Cup in 2011. She won a pair of Western Women’s Hockey League championships with the Calgary Oval X-Treme in 2007 and 2008, winning gold with the Oval X-Treme at the 2007 Esso Women’s Nationals and bronze at the same event the following year.

Collins also spent two seasons (2003-05) with the University of Alberta, earning CIS First Team All-Canadian and Canada West First Team All-Star honours in both seasons. She helped the Pandas win the CIS national championship in 2004 and reach the gold medal game, earning a spot on the CIS All-Tournament Team, in 2005.

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.