Girl Power: Natalie Spooner, Olympic gold Medalist inspires champions

Why
Story

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I believe that women are strong and can excel at sports. I play hockey because I'm passionate. I feel free on the ice.

Lesson Learned

To keep developing as a player and a person while always having fun. I see the girls in my program playing and it reminds me to always be like that, to be having fun, to be just enjoying it.

Magic Moment

Meeting an olypmic gold medalist Jennifer Botterill at thirteen.

SuperPower

STRENGTH

Sochi Olympic gold medalist, Natalie Spooner made Canadian hockey history by becoming the first woman to claim both an Olympic Winter Games gold medal and the Clarkson Cup in the same year.

Natalie is an authority on competing and winning at the highest level of amateur sport and is passionate about training and mentoring talented young hockey players. Girls with a talent for Canada's national game and the passion to pursue their dreams attend the Natalie Spooner High Performance Hockey Academy near Toronto, Ontario. With Natalie Spooner as their mentor, this determined group of athletes learn what it takes on the ice and off to compete, win and have fun.

Influence Magazine caught up to Natalie at her High Performance Hockey Academy with the goal of sharing a glimpse of the story behind her incredible success. What Sharon Ricci, our Editor-in-Chief discovered, was a true Canadian story of shared vision, dedicated partners and an endearing love of the game of hockey.

Birthplace:

Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

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Hometown:

Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

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Family:

Nieces, Nephews, Teammates, Boyfriend

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Work Motto:

"Ability is what you're capable of doing, motivation determines what you do, attitude determines how well you do it." -Lou Holtz

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Something you're doing now that would surprise your 20 year old self:

I played for Under 18 Team Canada 10 years ago. I never thought I'd compete in the Olympics but I reached for my dreams and met them.

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Your favorite part of working with young athletes:

The girls working hard with big smiles on their faces with so much love for the game.

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Where Natalie keeps her Gold medal?

In a Hudson Bay mitten. Classic Canadian move!

The Quick 411

Natalie Spooner High Performance Hockey Academy powered by ETS

Where girls go to become champions.

WEBSITE

PHONE:

At the very heart of it

Where girls go to become champions.

If the business was a movie

A story of growth, work my way up to where I am. Ups and downs.

Belief in a few words

We're an academy that shows girls that they can play sports and make a living at it.

5 stand out characteristics

HARDWORKING

ENTHUSIASTIC

POSITIVE

COMPETITIVE

STRONG

Highlights

Three older brothers playing hockey and following their lead.

At 13, I met Jennifer Botterill, who showed me her Olympic gold medal and sparked my interest. I believed if she could do, maybe I could too.

From 15 to 17, I played with Team Ontario and then the Under 18 Canada team. This first taste of international hockey was a big moment.

Getting a scholarship to Ohio State.

Making the Olympic Team and winning Gold! Also, appearing on The Amazing Race Canada Season 2 (See video)

Important Partners That Helped Along the Way

Getting More Story Behind the Story

Do you have any community partners that have helped you along the way?

I'm grateful that Hogan Chevrolet sponsored six athletes of ours this year. The team at Hogan shares my vision that all girls deserve to play sports, and everyone deserves the opportunity no matter what their circumstances.

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How did this relationship get started?

Women hockey players don't get paid to play so sponsors are really important. Hogan Chevrolet has been a huge supporter of mine since 2013. I reached out to them to see if they were willing to sponsor me by lending me a car so I could get to Olympic training. They went so much further than that and have helped me get to the Sochi Olympics and PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.

Influencer

Definition

You share your lessons learned so others can avoid those mistakes.

What Natalie does for fun:

Cooking, baking, knitting, napping and relaxing with the family.

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Jeans or Khakis?

Sweatpants

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Watch or play sports?

Play!

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Coffee, beer or wine?

Wine (Red)

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Feet up on the desk or flat on the floor?

On the floor

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Vacation close to home or across the world?

Across the world

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Beach or ski resort?

Beach

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Plane, train, ship or automobile?

Plane

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Her weekend: Plan every moment or wing it?

Pretty planned

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