‘Incredible inspiration’: Spooner sparks Canada after long road back to the Olympics

MILAN – Natalie Spooner scored Canada’s opening goal in Milan. The celebration said a lot.

“It feels great,” the 35-year-old Toronto Sceptres forward told TSN. “I was doing the Emma Maltais little hop. I was like, Oh my goodness, I spent too much time with Emma. Now I’m hopping around like her. But, no, it was great. Coming into this, there’s been a lot of adversity that I’ve faced. But just being able to have an impact and be here for my teammates and do whatever it takes, it felt good that I was able to have that impact on the power play.”

Spooner’s second-period goal helped Canada get the offence going in what ended up being a 4-0 win in their tournament opener against Switzerland.

“You could just see the emotion,” said Canada head coach Troy Ryan, who is also Spooner’s coach in the PWHL. “She’s listed right now as the 13th forward, but she’s going to have an impact much greater than that. Just nice to see her get rewarded for all the work she’s done.”

Spooner has gone through a lot since helping Canada win gold in Beijing four years ago. She gave birth to her first child, son Rory, in December 2022.

Spooner dominated the PWHL in the 2023-24 season en route to being named MVP. But that season was cut short when she suffered a torn ACL in the playoffs, which required surgery. She did not return to game action until February 2025.

Spooner has struggled to regain her top form following the injury, but that did not stop her from earning a spot at a fourth Olympics.

“When I became a mom, it definitely put things into perspective, what is important, and kind of taught me a little bit of balance in my life,” Spooner said. “And then when I sustained my injury, I think I could lean a little bit on coming back from motherhood and the resilience that it takes. And being here, I just have that confidence that, you know, like, you put your mind to something, you can do it. I think that makes it extra special.”

Spooner played eight minutes and 53 seconds on Saturday and logged a few shifts on the top line beside Laura Stacey and captain Marie-Philip Poulin.

“The work she’s put in day in and day out, for her to be here, she deserves it entirely and very proud of her,” said Poulin, who assisted on Spooner’s goal. “We’re truly lucky to have her on our team and as a friend and as a teammate.”

Spooner’s story is a rallying point for an underdog Canadian team looking to turn the page on a six-game losing streak against the United States.

“I’m so proud of her,” said goalie Emerance Maschmeyer, who stopped all six Swiss shots to record a shutout on Saturday night. “She’s gone through so much with injuries and coming back from pregnancy. It’s just been a bumpy road. She’s an incredible inspiration and someone I look up to, being a mother myself. It wasn’t a pretty goal, but that’s kind of her bread and butter. She’s in front of the net and finds a way to put it in all the time.”

Spooner only has three goals and six points through 16 games this season, but possesses the potential to be an X-factor in Milan. She influences the team in so many ways.

“I played with Spoons in Beijing and she really took me under her wing there,” said forward Sarah Fillier, who scored Canada’s second goal. “She always has the biggest smile on her face, and I think that’s helped my game.”

Spooner is motivated not only to win another gold medal but also to create a special moment for Rory, who will be arriving in Italy on Tuesday.

“He may not totally understand it yet, but when he does, I think he’ll think it’s really special,” Spooner said. “Right now, he just thinks, you know, I’m mom playing hockey, and those are his aunties, and he wants to just play with us. But I think, down the road, he’ll learn it’s pretty cool.”

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One of Team Canada’s slogans in Milan is: “Her first, your last, our best.” Poulin, who is playing in her fifth Olympics, has those words written on her stick.

“It’s something that means a lot to me,” said Poulin, who turns 35 in March. “I love seeing that on my stick.”

What does she think of when she sees it?

“Just how special this group is,” the Montreal Victoire centre said.

“The connection we’ve had the last years, I don’t know, it’s something that’s truly special. Obviously, everybody could have been yapping around about the first game being postponed, but when it happened, we just put our head down and got to work.”

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Canada was supposed to open the Olympics on Thursday, but that game was postponed after Finland had four players test positive for the norovirus.

The Swiss players, meanwhile, were forced to isolate and miss the Opening Ceremony on Friday after one of their players tested positive.

Ryan likes how his team handled the delayed start and all the uncertainty.

“I don’t think any of that fazes them,” Ryan said. “I think, obviously, much more difficult for the people that are impacted directly. We can adjust. The one benefit of having an experienced group is that it’s not a big deal to them. They adjust and move forward.”

There are 16 players back from Canada’s gold-medal team from four years ago.

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Canada’s plan entering the Olympics appeared to be for Ann-Renée Desbiens to start Thursday’s game, with Maschmeyer slated to go on Saturday. Despite the postponement, Canada decided to stick with Maschmeyer against the Swiss.

It was the third career Olympic start for the Vancouver Goldeneyes netminder, who remains undefeated.

“Incredible,” the 31-year-old said. “It’s such a special moment. Something you dream of your whole life and, in this case, the last four years. You just think of it all the time, so super special to be called to be between the pipes.”

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There’s no lucky loonie under the ice at Milano Rho Arena, but Team Canada appears to have a lucky loon with them in Italy.

After the win, Maltais walked through the media mixed zone holding a stuffed animal.

“We just got it,” Maltais said before turning to teammate Claire Thompson. “What’s it called?”

Thompson imitated a loon call.

“It’s for the loon, like, lucky bird for Canada,” Maltais said with a grin.

Canada plays its second of four preliminary-round games on Monday against Czechia.

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Team Canada lines to start Saturday’s game:

Gosling - Poulin - Stacey

Watts - Nurse - Fillier

Maltais - Turnbull - Clark

Gardiner - O’Neill - Jenner

Spooner

Larocque - Fast

Shelton - Ambrose

Thompson - Jaques

Tabin

Maschmeyer starts

Osborne