View source for Vicky Sunohara

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player and coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image        = Vicky Sunohara.jpg 
| alt          =
| caption      =
| image_size   =
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1970|5|18}}
| birth_place  = [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| position     = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]]
| shoots       = Left
| height_ft    = 5
| height_in    = 6
| weight_lb    = 169
| team         = [[Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey|Northeastern Huskies]]<br>[[Toronto Lady Blues women's ice hockey team|Toronto Lady Blues]]<br>[[Brampton Thunder]]
| league       = [[ECAC women's ice hockey|ECAC]]<br>[[Canadian Interuniversity Sport|CIAU]]<br>[[Canadian Women's Hockey League|CWHL]]
| sex          = f
| ntl_team     = CAN
| career_start = 1990
| career_end   = 2008
| website      = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> 
}}

'''Vicky Sunohara''' (born May 18, 1970) is a Canadian [[ice hockey]] coach, former ice hockey player, and three-time Olympic medallist.<ref name="Sportsnet2023"/> She has been described as "the Wayne Gretzky of women's hockey" and is recognized as a trailblazer and pioneer for the sport.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wallace|first=William N.|date=1990-03-02|title=No Rough Stuff Allowed|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/02/sports/no-rough-stuff-allowed.html|access-date=2019-08-31|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212602/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/02/sports/no-rough-stuff-allowed.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-02-12|title=Scarborough's Vicky Sunohara a Firsthand Look at The Growing Game of Female Hockey|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2006-oly006-en|access-date=2021-01-08|website=[[Hockey Canada]]|language=en-ca|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212609/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2006-oly006-en|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Sunohara was named to "[[TSN Hockey]]’s All-Time Women’s Team Canada," in recognition of her status as one of Canada’s best female hockey players of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dryden|first=Steve|date=2020-05-19|title=TSN Hockey's All-Time Women's Team Canada|url=https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-hockey-s-all-time-women-s-team-canada-1.1476983|access-date=2021-01-02|website=[[The Sports Network|TSN]]|language=en|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205233956/https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-hockey-s-all-time-women-s-team-canada-1.1476983|url-status=live}}</ref> She was inducted into the [[IIHF Hall of Fame]] in 2025.

Sunohara is currently the head coach of the [[Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey|Varsity Blues women's ice hockey]] team of the [[University of Toronto]]. She was nationally recognized in 2019–20 and 2021-22 as the [[U Sports women's ice hockey|U Sports Women's Ice Hockey]] Coach of the Year and was named the 2019–20 [[Ontario University Athletics]] (OUA) Female Coach of the Year across all sports.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-11|title=Women's Ice Hockey - Sunohara Named U Sports Coach of the Year|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2020/3/11/womens-ice-hockey-sunohara-named-u-sports-coach-of-the-year.aspx|access-date=2020-12-31|website=University of Toronto Athletics|type=Press release|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110074134/https://varsityblues.ca/news/2020/3/11/womens-ice-hockey-sunohara-named-u-sports-coach-of-the-year.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-06|title=Women's Ice Hockey - Sunohara Named OUA Female Coach of the Year|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2020/5/6/womens-ice-hockey-sunohara-named-oua-female-coach-of-the-year.aspx|access-date=2020-12-31|website=University of Toronto Athletics|type=Press release|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110083344/https://varsityblues.ca/news/2020/5/6/womens-ice-hockey-sunohara-named-oua-female-coach-of-the-year.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=usports>{{Cite web |title=McGill's Downie-Landry headlines U SPORTS women's hockey major award winners |date=23 March 2022 |url=https://usports.ca/en/awards/news/2022/03/1866880649/mcgill-s-downie-landry-headlines-u-sports-women-s-hockey-major-award-winners |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=U SPORTS |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824011719/https://usports.ca/en/awards/news/2022/03/1866880649/mcgill-s-downie-landry-headlines-u-sports-women-s-hockey-major-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Playing career==

Sunohara began to play hockey as a small child and the love of the game came naturally to her as her late father, David Sunohara, was a hockey enthusiast who played [[college ice hockey]] with the [[Ryerson Rams]].<ref>[http://www.toronto.ca/mie/olympictorchrelay/vicky-bio.htm] {{dead link|date=November 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=1998-02-23|title=Sunohara's Nagano reunion|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamNaganoColumns/feb23_buffery.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721093521/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamNaganoColumns/feb23_buffery.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 21, 2012|access-date=2014-11-23|newspaper=[[Toronto Sun]]}}</ref><ref name="Sportsnet2023">{{cite web |last1=Sadler |first1=Emily |title="Hockey's Been the Glue": How her family's passion for the game ignited Team Canada great and three-time Olympian Vicky Sunohara's legendary career |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/longform/how-family-passion-ignited-vicky-sunoharas-legendary-hockey-career/ |website=Big Reads |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=7 May 2023}}</ref>

Sunohara's father built a backyard rink in the winters and introduced his daughter to skating at the age of two and a half. "My mother said that from the minute my father introduced me to hockey, I wouldn't do anything else," Sunohara commented, "I just loved it."<ref name="Jurewicz">{{Cite web|last=Jurewicz|first=Chris|date=December 2020|title=Janes ALL IN Honoured Players: Vicky Sunohara|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/partnerships/programs/janes-all-in/honoured-players/vicky-sunohara|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[Hockey Canada]]|language=en-ca|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212612/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/error/404?aspxerrorpath=/en-ca/corporate/partnerships/programs/janes-all-in/honoured-players/vicky-sunohara|url-status=live}}</ref>

She began playing organized hockey on a boys team at age 5, but was eventually banned from the boys' leagues due to her gender.<ref>{{cite web|last=Funston|first=Mike|date=2007-01-18|title=Ultimate hockey mom expecting to repeat feat|url=https://www.thestar.com/Special/article/171716|access-date=2014-11-23|work=[[Toronto Star]]|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204210820/https://www.thestar.com/sponsored_sections/2007/01/18/ultimate_hockey_mom_expecting_to_repeat_feat.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web|author=Pelletier|first=Joe|date=2009-12-28|title=Vicky Sunohara|url=http://womenshockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/12/vicky-sunohara.html|access-date=2014-11-23|website=Women's Hockey Legends|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708072555/http://womenshockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/12/vicky-sunohara.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  She ended up dominating every level of girls' competition.

Sunohara attended [[Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute]] in [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]], a suburban district of [[Toronto]], where she was a standout on the women's ice hockey, field hockey, soccer, and flag football teams.

Following high school, Sunohara received a full [[athletic scholarship]] to [[Northeastern University]] in [[Boston]], where she played two seasons with the [[Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey]] program in the [[ECAC Hockey]] conference of the [[NCAA Division I Women's Hockey conferences and teams|NCAA Division I]]. In her [[freshman]] season, she led the Huskies in scoring as they claimed the 1989 [[ECAC Hockey]] conference championship title and was recognized as the ECAC Rookie of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Women's Hockey - 1988-89 Season Statistics|url=https://nuhuskies.com/sports/2016/5/5/womens-hockey-1988-89-season-statistics|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Northeastern University Athletics|language=en|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212608/https://nuhuskies.com/sports/2016/5/5/womens-hockey-1988-89-season-statistics|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1989–90 season, she led the team in scoring again and was named to the NCAA All-American team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Women's Hockey - 1989-90 Season Statistics|url=https://nuhuskies.com/sports/2016/5/5/womens-hockey-1989-90-season-statistics.aspx?id=3245|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Northeastern University Athletics|language=en|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212608/https://nuhuskies.com/sports/2016/5/5/womens-hockey-1989-90-season-statistics.aspx?id=3245|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-10-27|title=The Hill Welcomes Vicky Sunohara|url=http://www.thehillacademy.com/news_item_vicky_sunohara.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027040153/http://www.thehillacademy.com/news_item_vicky_sunohara.html|archive-date=2009-10-27|access-date=2021-01-02|website=[[The Hill Academy]]}}</ref> Across 45 games with Northeastern, she scored 122 [[Point (ice hockey)|points]] (78 [[Goal (ice hockey)|goals]] and 44 [[Assist (ice hockey)|assists]]).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Player Profile: Vicky Sunohara|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/368553/vicky-sunohara|access-date=2020-12-31|website=EliteProspects.com|language=en|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150724/https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/368553/vicky-sunohara|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:20080118 Sunohara signs2 (4363592192).jpg|thumb|left|Sunohara signing autographs in 2008]]

Sunohara also played hockey for the University of Toronto, where her team won the [[Ontario University Athletics women's ice hockey]] championships in 1990–91 and 1991–92. She was named the OUA women's ice hockey Rookie of the Year in 1990–91.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.vickysunohara.ca/bio.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113201307/http://www.vickysunohara.ca/bio.html|archive-date=2007-11-13|access-date=2014-11-23|website=vickysunohara.ca}}</ref>

When she was not involved in international competition, Sunohara was the captain and assistant coach for the [[Brampton Canadettes Thunder]] in the [[Canadian Women's Hockey League]] (formerly the Brampton Thunder of the [[National Women's Hockey League (1999–2007)|National Women's Hockey League]]). Sunohara participated in several [[Esso women's hockey nationals]] with Brampton. She was named the top forward of the tournament in 2005 and her team, the [[Brampton Thunder]], won the national title in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-03-16|editor-last=Brin|editor-first=André|title=Canada's National Women's Team Members Adding Some Hardware Prior to the World Championship|url=http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/5599/la_id/1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607130842/http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/5599/la_id/1.htm|archive-date=2011-06-07|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[Hockey Canada]]}}</ref>

Sunohara also played in the [[Central Ontario Women's Hockey League]] with the Scarborough Firefighters (1990–1994), Toronto Red Wings (1994–1996), and the Newtonbrook Panthers (1996–97).<ref>Who's Who in Canadian Sport, Volume 4, p.430, [[Bob Ferguson (journalist)|Bob Ferguson]], Fitzhenry and Whiteside Ltd., Markham, ON and Allston, MA, {{ISBN|1-55041-855-6}}</ref>

== International play ==
{{MedalTableTop
| name = no
| image = 
| image_size = 180px
| alt = Alternative text here
| caption = Sunohara with her gold medals from the 2002 and 2006 Olympics.
| medals =
{{MedalCountry | {{ihw|CAN}} }}
{{MedalSport | Women's [[ice hockey]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Winter Olympic Games|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]] |[[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament|Tournament]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]] |[[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament|Tournament]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]] |[[Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament|Tournament]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[IIHF World Women's Championships|World Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1990 IIHF Women's World Championship|1990 Canada]]|}}
{{MedalGold | [[1997 IIHF Women's World Championship|1997 Canada]]|}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 IIHF Women's World Championship|1999 Finland]]|}}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 IIHF Women's World Championship|2000 Canada]]|}}
{{MedalGold | [[2001 IIHF Women's World Championship|2001 United States]]|}}
{{MedalGold | [[2004 IIHF Women's World Championship|2004 Canada]]|}}
{{MedalGold | [[2007 IIHF Women's World Championship|2007 Canada]]|}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2005 IIHF Women's World Championship|2005 Sweden]]|}}
}}
Sunohara won an Olympic silver medal at the [[1998 Winter Olympics]] in [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano, Japan]]. She continued with an [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|Olympic gold medal]] at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], and another gold medal at the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]], [[Italy]].

Besides the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics, Sunohara represented Canada in numerous international ice hockey competitions. She won seven gold medals at the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) World Championships, the first one coming in 1990.  In total, she won 15 gold medals and 3 silver medals as a member of Canada's national team.

Sunohara excelled for Team Canada in major tournaments.<ref name="Sportsnet2023"/> She had 13 points in 16 games during three Olympics, and 41 points in 40 games during eight World Championships.<ref name=":3" /> Sunohara finished her career with Team Canada with 119 points (56 goals and 62 assists) in 164 games.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Norm|date=2009-12-22|title=Scarborough's Piper makes Olympic squad - again|url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/sports/article/246748--scarborough-s-piper-makes-olympic-squad-again|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115859/http://www.insidetoronto.com/sports/article/246748--scarborough-s-piper-makes-olympic-squad-again|archive-date=2011-07-19|access-date=2021-01-03|website=InsideToronto}}</ref> As of 2020, she continued to rank in Canada's all-time top ten for games played, goals, and points.<ref name=":4" />

Sunohara was inducted into the [[IIHF Hall of Fame]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lundqvist, Chara and Sunohara headline IIHF's 2025 Hall of Game class|date=3 January 2025|work=[[The Sports Network]]|location=Toronto, Ontario|url=https://www.tsn.ca/lundqvist-chara-and-sunohara-headline-iihf-s-2025-hall-of-game-class-1.2229250|access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theicegarden.com/martin-hasson-sunohara-named-hockey-hall-of-fame-olympics-iihf/|title=Kim Martin-Hasson, Vicky Sunohara Named to IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame|last=Smith|first=Maya|date=3 January 2025|work=The Ice Garden|access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

==Coaching and leadership==
Sunohara is credited with helping to expand the popularity of women's ice hockey, having trained and mentored many young girls in the sport.<ref name="Sportsnet2023"/> Along with instructing at several hockey camps and clinics, she served as an assistant hockey coach at the [[Canada women's national under-18 ice hockey team|Canadian women's national under-18]] and under-19 team evaluation camps. In 2022, Sunohara was an assistant coach on Canada’s under-18 women’s ice hockey team,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two GTHL alumni among 23 selected for 2022 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship – GTHL |url=https://gthlcanada.com/article/two-gthl-alumni-among-23-selected-for-2022-iihf-u18-womens-world-champion |access-date=2022-08-24}}</ref> which won gold at the world championships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada wins gold at 2022 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/canada-wins-gold-at-u18-worlds-2022-u18wwc |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=www.hockeycanada.ca |language=en-ca |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819122152/https://hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/canada-wins-gold-at-u18-worlds-2022-u18wwc |url-status=live }}</ref> For two years, she was the Director of Women's Hockey at [[The Hill Academy]] in [[Vaughan, Ontario]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Women's Hockey - Vicky Sunohara, Head Coach (10th Season)|url=https://varsityblues.ca/staff-directory/vicky-sunohara/338|access-date=2021-01-03|website=University of Toronto Athletics|language=en|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115092755/https://varsityblues.ca/staff-directory/vicky-sunohara/338|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, Sunohara was named head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's ice hockey team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunohara makes U of T return as bench boss |url=https://torontoobserver.ca/2011/09/07/sunohara-makes-u-of-t-return-as-bench-boss/ |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=The Toronto Observer |date=7 September 2011 |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929142904/https://torontoobserver.ca/2011/09/07/sunohara-makes-u-of-t-return-as-bench-boss/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sunohara named head coach of U of T women's hockey team |url=https://www.toronto.com/community-story/67254-sunohara-named-head-coach-of-u-of-t-women-s-hockey-team/ |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=Toronto.com |date=4 August 2011 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212609/https://www.toronto.com/life/sunohara-named-head-coach-of-u-of-t-womens-hockey-team/article_b7669d95-dae2-5d91-8fc8-5a13029fcbd9.html? |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sportsnet2023"/>

In 2020, Sunohara guided University of Toronto to winning the [[Ontario University Athletics women's ice hockey|Ontario University Athletics women’s ice hockey]] title. [[U Sports]], the governing body of university sport in Canada, named Sunohara the 2019–20 National Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Ontario University Athletics also named her the 2019–20 Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, in addition to the Female Coach of the Year across all sports.<ref name=":5" /> Sunohara repeated as the U Sports Women’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year in the 2021-22 season.<ref name=usports/>

In 2022, The Hockey News ranked Sunohara as having the strongest qualifications to break the gender barrier and become the first female head coach in the National Hockey League.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |title=25 Women Who Could Break the NHL's Head Coaching Gender Barrier |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/25-women-who-could-break-the-nhls-head-coaching-gender-barrier |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=The Hockey News |language=en |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824011719/https://thehockeynews.com/news/25-women-who-could-break-the-nhls-head-coaching-gender-barrier |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sunohara's coaching philosophy goes beyond teaching skills and she has described coaching as "more than just teaching a wrist shot or slap shot." She believes in instilling "Olympic values," like integrity, accountability, and commitment and endeavors to mold her team members into not just better players but better people.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Quade|first1=Rachel|last2=Samuel|first2=Daniel|date=2018-02-05|title=Vicky Sunohara's Olympic journey|url=https://thevarsity.ca/2018/02/04/vicky-sunoharas-olympic-journey/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[The Varsity (newspaper)|The Varsity]]|language=en-US|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119180859/https://thevarsity.ca/2018/02/04/vicky-sunoharas-olympic-journey/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Well known for her affable manner and engaging personality, Sunohara has been described as "one of the nicest people in all of hockey," while at the same time being a focused and intense competitor.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" /> During her tenure with Team Canada, Sunohara was counted on for her veteran leadership and was the assistant captain of the Canadian national team from 2001 until her retirement in 2008 at the age of 38.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/vicky-sunohara-1.html|title=Vicky Sunohara|work=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=23 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070400/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/vicky-sunohara-1.html|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

A former Team Canada teammate, [[Jennifer Botterill]], described Sunohara as "the most positive, supportive, energetic person you'll meet."<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Beverley|date=2008-03-04|title=Sunohara will miss out on worlds|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/sunohara-will-miss-out-on-worlds/article18446238/|access-date=2021-01-03|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212609/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/sunohara-will-miss-out-on-worlds/article18446238/|url-status=live}}</ref>

About Sunohara, [[Sami Jo Small]], another former Team Canada teammate, said:

<blockquote>
I have had the privilege of playing with some pretty amazing people but none have struck me as born leaders like Vicky Sunohara...She rallies the troops in desperate times and tells funny jokes when the pressure is mounting...She's always there for her teammates and always willing to do whatever it takes to win. She makes those around her not only better hockey players but also better people...In the ten years I played on the team I never saw another player touch as many people in such a positive way as Vicky Sunohara.<ref name=":2" />
</blockquote>Sunohara's former Team Canada coach, [[Melody Davidson]], said of Sunohara: "She'll do everything she can for this team. She's just a tremendous person."<ref name=":7" />

In 2009, [[David Miller (Canadian politician)|David Miller]], then [[Mayor of Toronto]], remarked:

<blockquote>
Not only is Vicky one of Canada's elite female athletes, she is a Torontonian and the granddaughter of immigrants representing the city's diversity which is one of our most important strengths. Vicky is well respected in our community and has worked tirelessly to help the youth of Toronto -- especially young girls -- develop their skills and fulfill their dreams.<ref>{{cite web|date=2009-10-27|editor-last=Trott|editor-first=Patricia|title=Mayor Miller announces Toronto's Olympic Final Torchbearer|url=http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/db04ad5020802e4b85257aa70063249d/346331a69e741a0e8525765c006b8b24?OpenDocument|access-date=2014-11-23|website=City of Toronto|archive-date=December 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215232424/http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/db04ad5020802e4b85257aa70063249d/346331a69e741a0e8525765c006b8b24?OpenDocument|url-status=live}}</ref>
</blockquote>

==Other awards and accomplishments==
Sunohara was inducted into the [[Brampton|City of Brampton]] Sports Hall of Fame, alongside national team teammates [[Jayna Hefford]] and [[Sami Jo Small]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2002|title=BSHOF Inductee: Vicky Sunohara|url=http://www.bramptonsports.ca/inductee.php?pk=102|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314132440/http://www.bramptonsports.ca/inductee.php?pk=102|archive-date=2007-03-14|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Brampton Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2002|title=Brampton Sports Hall of Fame – 2002 Inductee Biographies|url=https://cspuatxwww.brampton.ca/EN/residents/Recreation/SportsHallOfFame/Documents/Inductee%20Bios/shofbios2002.pdf|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[City of Brampton]]|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221030605/https://cspuatxwww.brampton.ca/EN/residents/Recreation/SportsHallOfFame/Documents/Inductee%20Bios/shofbios2002.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, she was named an inaugural member of the Scarborough Walk of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 Scarborough Walk of Fame Inductees|url=http://www.standupscarborough.ca/walk/inductees.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024163106/http://www.standupscarborough.ca/walk/inductees.htm|archive-date=2007-10-24|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Stand Up Scarborough}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Vicky Sunohara|url=https://www.scarboroughwalkoffame.com/vicky-sunohara|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Scarborough Walk of Fame Association|language=en|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205115815/https://www.scarboroughwalkoffame.com/vicky-sunohara|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the age of 36, Sunohara was named Ontario's Female Athlete of the Year for 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-04-26|title=Ontario Sport Award Winners|url=http://www.cscontario.ca/web_page/news.php?id=dft613|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016192342/http://www.cscontario.ca/web_page/news.php?id=dft613|archive-date=2007-10-16|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Sports Canada Ontario|type=Press release}}</ref>

Sunohara has been acknowledged by the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] as one of the notable women ice hockey players of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Notable Women Ice Hockey Players|url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlTimeCapsule/wmspla05.shtml|access-date=2014-11-22|website=[[Hockey Hall of Fame]]|archive-date=October 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027164754/http://www.hhof.com/htmlTimeCapsule/wmspla05.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2009, Sunohara was selected by the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee to be Toronto's final torchbearer in the [[2010 Winter Olympics torch relay]] as the Vancouver-bound Olympic flame passed through Ontario on its cross-country journey. She lit the cauldron before thousands of spectators at [[Nathan Phillips Square]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Christie|first=James|date=2009-10-27|title=Vicky Sunohara Toronto's final torchbearer|url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid=18203.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130155456/http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid=18203.html|archive-date=2010-01-30|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[CTV Olympics]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2009-12-17|title=Olympic flame lights up downtown Toronto|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/olympic-flame-lights-up-downtown-toronto-1.465855|access-date=2014-11-23|work=[[CTV News]]|archive-date=March 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314183604/https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/olympic-flame-lights-up-downtown-toronto-1.465855|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-10-27|title=Three Time Hockey Medalist Toronto's Torch Bearer|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/10/27/three-time-hockey-medalist-t-o-s-torchbearer.aspx|access-date=2010-02-27|website=[[National Post]]}}{{dead link|date=April 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2012, Sunohara was inducted into the [[Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame]] with the roster of the [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women's team rosters#Canada|2006 Canadian women's national team]] that participated in the women's ice hockey tournament of the 2006 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-19|title=Athletes: Vicky Sunohara|url=https://olympic.ca/team-canada/vicky-sunohara/|access-date=2020-12-31|website=Team Canada Official Olympic Team Website|language=en-US|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305191253/https://olympic.ca/team-canada/vicky-sunohara/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Sunohara was inducted into the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour in the sport legends category.<ref>{{cite web|date=2018-04-30|title=Sunohara Inducted into Toronto Sport Hall of Honour|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2018/4/30/womens-ice-hockey-sunohara-inducted-into-toronto-sport-hall-of-honour.aspx|access-date=2019-08-31|website=University of Toronto Athletics|archive-date=August 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831231751/https://varsityblues.ca/news/2018/4/30/womens-ice-hockey-sunohara-inducted-into-toronto-sport-hall-of-honour.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Sunohara was featured in the Canadian Olympic Committee “Virtue and Victory” campaign, showcasing the stories of athletes who exemplify both Canadian and Olympic values. Sunohara, along with [[Hayley Wickenheiser]] and [[Caroline Ouellette]], were recognized for leadership and excellence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-23|title=Team Canada unveils bold new 'Be Olympic' brand platform highlighting Canadian values|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/team-canada-unveils-bold-new-be-olympic-brand-platform-highlighting-canadian-values-670719313.html|access-date=2021-01-03|publisher=[[Canadian Olympic Committee]]|language=en|type=Press release}}</ref>

In 2019, Sunohara was appointed [[Colonel (title)|Honorary Lieutenant Colonel]] of [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]], a [[Primary Reserve]] regiment of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]], based in [[Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qormuseum.org/soldiers-of-the-queens-own/sunohara-vicky/|title=Sunohara, Vicky|date=2019-09-20|website=The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archives|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> “I was shocked and humbled,” said HLCol Sunohara. “What came to my mind was ‘not worthy.’ But obviously I have a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude for those who serve our country. To be able to contribute in some small way is quite rewarding.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Elaine|date=2019-09-20|title=An extraordinary honour for Blues coach Vicky Sunohara|url=https://kpe.utoronto.ca/varsity-blues-news/extraordinary-honour-blues-coach-vicky-sunohara|access-date=2019-11-18|website=University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education|archive-date=November 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118012204/https://kpe.utoronto.ca/varsity-blues-news/extraordinary-honour-blues-coach-vicky-sunohara|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[Regimental sergeant major|Regimental Sergeant Major]] Donovan O’Halloran, Sunohara was a “natural choice” for this appointment, commenting:<blockquote>Vicky is a leader in our community on several levels. She is a role model for the pursuit of excellence, she has achieved the highest measure of success in her sport and she continues to serve her community through coaching, mentoring and volunteering. It is a great privilege to have a woman of such distinction accept this important role.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Elaine|date=2019-09-20|title=An extraordinary honour for U of T alumna and hockey great Vicky Sunohara|url=https://alumni.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/news-and-articles/extraordinary-honour-u-t-alumna-and-hockey-great-vicky-sunohara|access-date=2021-01-02|website=University of Toronto Alumni|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>In 2020, Sunohara was named to "TSN Hockey’s All-Time Women’s Team Canada" and described as "the ultimate glue player," meaning an egoless leader who put the needs of her team above everything else and held the team together. Sunohara was the epitome of a team player.

In 2020, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre named Sunohara a recipient of the Sakura Award, which recognizes exceptional contributions made by individuals to the promotion and exchange of Japanese culture and enhancing awareness of Japanese heritage within Canada and abroad.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Vicky Sunohara - 2020 Sakura Award Recipient|url=https://jccc.on.ca/join-support/sakura-gala/sakura-award/past-recipients/vicky-sunohara|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728195603/https://jccc.on.ca/join-support/sakura-gala/sakura-award/past-recipients/vicky-sunohara|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sakura Gala - About the Award|url=https://jccc.on.ca/join-support/sakura-gala/sakura-award/about-award|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre}}</ref> Sunohara's grandparents grew up in Japan; they moved to Ontario from BC after being released from [[Internment of Japanese Canadians|World War II internment camps]] in that province.<ref name="Sportsnet2023"/>

Sunohara was one of six Canadian women's ice hockey players honoured during the [[2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship]]. Sunohara and the other honourees were described as “some of the greatest female hockey players Canada has ever produced,” with their “legacies as trailblazers for the women’s game” having been well documented.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Spiker|first=Brianne|date=2020-12-26|title=Canadian female hockey greats to be honoured on World Juniors masks|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian-female-hockey-greats-to-be-honoured-on-world-juniors-masks-1.1568974|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[The Sports Network|TSN]]|language=en|archive-date=December 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226155655/https://www.tsn.ca/canadian-female-hockey-greats-to-be-honoured-on-world-juniors-masks-1.1568974|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Janes ALL IN {{!}} The Masks|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/partnerships/programs/janes-all-in/masks|access-date=2020-12-31|website=[[Hockey Canada]]|language=en-ca|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120202717/https://hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/partnerships/programs/janes-all-in/masks|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sunohara was born in Scarborough, Ontario. She is of Japanese and Ukrainian heritage.<ref name="Sportsnet2023"/><ref name=":0" /> She is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education degree.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vicky Sunohara|url=https://alumni.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/featured-alumni/vicky-sunohara|access-date=2021-01-03|website=University of Toronto Alumni|language=en|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212609/https://alumni.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/featured-alumni/vicky-sunohara|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following her retirement from international hockey in 2008, Sunohara and her husband Tal welcomed twin boys in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nickle|first=David|date=2009-10-27|title=Scarborough's Sunohara to carry Olympic torch|url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/157533--scarborough-s-sunohara-to-carry-olympic-torch|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115804/http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/157533--scarborough-s-sunohara-to-carry-olympic-torch|archive-date=2011-07-19|access-date=2021-01-03|website=InsideToronto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.financialpost.com/m/story.html?id=2529817&s=Related+Topics&is=Sports&it=Topic&p=5|title=Home &#124; Financial Post Home Page &#124; Financial Post}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> As a busy mother, she coaches her sons' hockey team.<ref name="Jurewicz"/>

Sunohara makes frequent appearances as a guest speaker and donates a considerable amount of time to charitable and community organizations. Beginning in 2001, she served as a spokesperson for the Youth Assisting Youth program of [[United Way of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Youth Assisting Youth – History|url=http://www.yay.org/history.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124054334/http://www.yay.org/history.html|archive-date=2014-11-24|access-date=2014-11-23|website=YAY.org|publisher=[[United Way of Canada]]}}</ref> In 2010, Sunohara was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSCO), a non-profit organization committed to assisting high-performance athletes and coaches achieve excellence in international competition.<ref>{{cite web|date=2010-06-24|title=Sunohara appointed|url=https://www.bramptonguardian.com/community-story/3091544-sunohara-appointed/|access-date=2014-11-23|website=[[Brampton Guardian]]|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204212615/https://www.bramptonguardian.com/community-story/3091544-sunohara-appointed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{Ice hockey stats}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121008070732/http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/200565 Toronto Star article - "Sunohara to get last laugh as Canadians Think Pink"]
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120721093521/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamNaganoColumns/feb23_buffery.html Toronto Sun article - "Sunohara's Nagano reunion"]}}
* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DB163BF931A35750C0A966958260 New York Times article - Sunohara described as "the Wayne Gretzky of women's hockey"]
* [http://womenshockeylegends.blogspot.com/2009/12/vicky-sunohara.html Profiles of the Greatest Hockey Legends]
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115070354/http://lifewise.canoe.ca/Style/2005/02/11/928318.html Sunohara's beauty makeover]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070320052902/http://www.vickysunohara.ca/ Sunohara's website] 
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080502220747/http://www.bramptonthunder.com/bio.php?k=61 Sunohara's biography on Brampton Thunder's website]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070908060154/http://www.baycrestproam.com/home.html Baycrest International Pro-Am Hockey Tournament website]
{{U Sports women's ice hockey|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunohara, Vicky}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen]]
[[Category:Brampton Thunder players]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian sportspeople of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Canadian women's ice hockey centres]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Scarborough, Ontario]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:IIHF Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Northeastern Huskies women's ice hockey players]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Canada]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Toronto Varsity Blues ice hockey players]]