Nothing can stop Team Canada’s Natalie Spooner

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
Nothing can stop Team Canada’s Natalie Spooner
Credit: Natalie Spooner (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

BRAMPTON – In the NHL, there’s something called “New Dad Energy.”

The next time a player returns from a couple of days off for their kid’s birth, watch how well they play. Stuart Skinner, Jordan Eberle, Elias Lindholm, you name it. Something about playing on full adrenaline level makes you unstoppable, and the players will be the first to tell you that.

But on the women’s side, it’s even more prominent. That’s the case for Natalie Spooner, who, about four months ago, gave birth to her little Rory. Spooner played just seven PWHPA games this season, but otherwise didn’t see any competition since the 2022 Olympics. Given the shorter women’s hockey schedules, and the COVID-19 interruptions the past few years, Spooner hasn’t played a ton of hockey during her prime years.

And yet, she still looks like the classic No. 24 fans are accustomed to.

Spooner scored the game’s opening goal on Wednesday in her first World Championship game in two years. The crowd at the CAA Centre in Brampton loved every second of it. If you’ve followed the sport for any length of time, you saw that trademark speed, skill and edge last night. She brought everything we’re used to seeing. This time, it was in front of a packed house, something she didn’t get to experience the past few times she donned the red, white and black Team Canada uniforms.

“I just blacked out when I scored,” Spooner said with a laugh. “All the girls said the crowd was going wild. And I was like, ‘Oh, I wish I kind of looked around more.’ I didn’t even know what was going on at that moment.”

Since Spooner emerged on the senior national team scene in 2011, she’s been among the game’s best. She’s a two-time gold medalist, and two-time all-star team member and she sits second behind Marie-Philip Poulin among active Canadian scorers with 46 points in 44 games. She has nearly 70 goals with Canada internationally, but few meant as much as the first with her child in attendance.

“It was awesome just to get back out there with my teammates,” Spooner said. “Playing with (Sarah Fillier) and (Sarah Nurse) is always so much fun. It’s good to get that first one.”

Spooner said it was always the plan to get back into the action as soon she could. The 32-year-old played some of her best hockey in the lead-up to Rory’s birth, having helped Canada to gold at the 2022 Olympics with 14 points in just seven games. She had nine points at the 2021 World Championship, marking one of her best performances ever. Spooner said returning to the lineup was easy and natural, and she’s happy to have the support around her to make it all work with her good luck charm in town for the experience.

“It’s pretty amazing how supportive my teammates and Hockey Canada have been with this whole thing,” Spooner said. “It’s a lot for me to juggle, but he’s got so many aunties around. They hold him at meals and make sure he’s happy so I can eat.”

“It’s been a lot of fun for our team, and the athletes and the staff, just having Rory around,” coach Troy Ryan said. “Everywhere we go, he’s at our meals. She’s done a great job managing it.”

Canada has won consecutive golds, but getting Spooner back after missing the 2022 tournament was a big plus. She helped anchor the team’s second line against Switzerland, with the trio all scoring in the 4-0 win. Clearly, the chemistry from the Olympics wasn’t lost.

Canada will play Czechia on Friday and Japan on Saturday before Monday’s marquee matchup against the United States. It’s one both sides are excited for, but they’re not expecting the road to Monday – and a chance at the top spot in Group A – to come easy. And Spooner’s been through it all before. It’s all business as usual for her. But that won’t stop her from taking in the moment on Wednesday night and sharing the love with her teammates.

She’s back. And it’s like she never left.

_____

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