NATALIE SPOONER
Position: Forward
Hometown: Scarborough, Ont.
Birthdate: October 17, 1990
Club Team: Toronto Furies (CWHL)

Road to Centralization
2006-08: Durham West Lightning (PWHL)
2008-12: Ohio State University (WCHA)
2012-13: Toronto Furies (CWHL)
2013-14: Centralized for Olympics
2014-17: Toronto Furies (CWHL)

Team Canada Experience
International debut: August 23, 2007 vs. United States
Canada’s National Women’s Team (2007-17): 96GP 45G 29A 74P
Canada’s National Women’s Development Team (2008-11): 24GP 14G 11A 25P
Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team (2007-08): 9GP 6G 13A 19P

Olympic & World Championship Experience
2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship – 5GP 1G 2A 3P (silver medal)
2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship – 5GP 3G 3A 6P (silver medal)
2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship – 5GP 4G 3A 7P (silver medal)
2014 Olympic Winter Games – 5GP 2G 2A 4P (gold medal)
2013 IIHF Women’s World Championship – 5GP 2G 0A 2P (silver medal)
2012 IIHF Women’s World Championship – 5GP 4G 2A 6P (gold medal)
2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship – 5GP 1G 2A 3P (silver medal)
2008 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship – 5GP 3G 8A 11P (silver medal)

Who has played the biggest role in getting you to centralization?
“There have been a lot of people. My parents were the ones who were driving me to the rink. They’re from England, and they didn’t know much about hockey, so they put their kids into the most Canadian sport they could find and we were all successful. I just followed by brothers’ footsteps and wanted to be just like them.”

When did you decide you wanted to play for Team Canada?
“I was probably 10 or 11, and I went to a hockey school and got to meet Jennifer Botterill and see her Olympic gold medal. I think that really sparked my dream of not only playing for Team Canada, but winning gold.”

What is the most important thing hockey has given you?
“Too much to name. It has given me so many friendships, and it has allowed me to travel the world – so many experiences I don’t think I’d be able to have without hockey. Hockey is fun, but it’s the things you remember away from the rink, the experiences with teammates and friends, that you treasure.”