Danielle Sauvageau

Danièle Sauvageau (born in Montreal, Quebec on April 22, 1962), MSC is the former head coach of the Canadian national women's hockey team which won the Gold medal in ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics. She was born in Montreal on April 22, 1962.

Early life
Originally from Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, Sauvageau was a member of the RCMP and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal for 21 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
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 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.

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 (City of Montreal Police Service).

Awards and honors

 * In 2004, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Decoration (Canada) (civil division). In 2002, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from Saint Mary's University (Halifax).
 * Sauvageau received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from Saint Mary's University in October 2002 for her leadership in international athletics