NHL trailblazer Hayley strikes a blow for diversity

BUFFALO, NY - With a laugh, Kim Pegula's competitive nature kicked in when the subject of the Toronto Maple Leafs hiring Hayley Wickenheiser was broached.

Impressed as the Sabres president was by the gender-breaking move in August, Pegula's first reaction was wondering how Buffalo's cross-border rival beat her to the punch in making Wickenheiser the NHL's first woman to hold a hockey operations role as assistant director of player development.

"Darn it," Pegula said, smiling. "I wish I would've done it first."