Natalie Spooner

A trailblazer in women’s ice hockey, Natalie Spooner earned a silver medal at the inaugural IIHF U-18 Women’s World Championship in 2008, solidifying her early career as the first player to compete for Canada’s National Women’s Team, U-22 Team, and U-18 Team by 2007. During her collegiate career at Ohio State University from 2008 to 2012, Spooner became the school’s all-time leader in goals with 100 and second in points with 163, setting a single-season record for goals scored as a senior. While pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, she also earned an Academic All-Big Ten at-large selection in 2010. Following her collegiate success, Spooner was drafted by the Toronto Furies of the CWHL.

In 2014, she achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first player to win an Olympic gold medal – secured at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics with Team Canada – and the Clarkson Cup in the same year, where she led the Furies in playoff scoring. Her leadership was recognized when she served as team captain for the Furies and was named a finalist for CWHL MVP in the 2015-16 season. After the CWHL ceased operations, Spooner continued to compete at the elite level, joining the PWHPA’s Toronto club for the Dream Gap Tours in both 2020 and 2021. Spooner’s distinguished international career with Team Canada includes a total of three Olympic medals: a silver medal at PyeongChang 2018 and a second gold medal at Beijing 2022, complementing her Sochi 2014 triumph.

Her outstanding performance earned her the prestigious Billie Jean King MVP Award, PWHL Forward of the Year, and a PWHL First Team All-Star selection. Beyond her playing career, Spooner actively contributes to the next generation of athletes by running a High Performance Hockey Academy for girls, nurturing future talent in the sport.