Years from now, once her six-month-old son is mature enough to appreciate his upbringing, Kendall Coyne Schofield looks forward to sharing pictures and video of road trips the two will have enjoyed together during the Professional Women香蕉视频直播檚 Hockey League香蕉视频直播檚 inaugural season.
Coyne Schofield can already envision the possibilities of spending time at various rinks, hotels and airports, and Drew being doted upon by his many new aunties, aka, her PWHL Minnesota teammates.
香蕉视频直播淚t will definitely be really special to look back at pictures with him and explain the journey that he was on for the first few years of his life, whether he wants to believe us or not,香蕉视频直播� she said.
The experiences mother and son will enjoy go much deeper for Coyne Schofield, a three-time Olympian and former U.S. captain. In preparing for Minnesota香蕉视频直播檚 opener at Boston on Jan. 3, the game will underline Coyne Schofield香蕉视频直播檚 determination in returning to competitive play, which some questioned was possible after taking leave from the national team a year ago.
香蕉视频直播淲hen I first announced my pregnancy, the first comment that I got out of a majority of people香蕉视频直播檚 mouths were, `Oh, so you香蕉视频直播檙e retiring,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Coyne Schofield recalled.
Rather than being an end, this is but a new beginning.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 31 years old and I would argue I香蕉视频直播檓 still in the prime of my career,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 want to make sure that (Drew) knew he was never the reason I stopped playing hockey. He was the reason I continued to play hockey.香蕉视频直播�
Coyne Schofield is hardly the first elite female athlete to return to competition after giving birth. She joins the likes of tennis star Serena Williams, Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, Alex Morgan and many other famous soccer moms, and hockey香蕉视频直播檚 Natalie Spooner, who rejoined Canada香蕉视频直播檚 roster in April some four months after having her first child.
Coyne Schofield certainly won香蕉视频直播檛 be the last at a time the international women香蕉视频直播檚 sports landscape is expanding, and with the commitments the PWHL has in place to assist new moms, who will face a 24-game schedule into early May that includes road trips and occasional games on consecutive days.
Aside from maternity leave being included in a collective bargaining agreement Coyne Schofield played a role in negotiating 香蕉视频直播� it was ratified on July 2, the same weekend Drew was born 香蕉视频直播� she said she was recently informed the league will provide a nanny for players香蕉视频直播� children through their first birthday.
This was an unexpected and pleasant surprise for Coyne Schofield, given she and Drew are initially making the move to the Twin Cities on their own, while her husband, Michael Schofield, continues his career as an NFL offensive lineman.
香蕉视频直播淚 was almost in tears because that香蕉视频直播檚 life-changing. And it香蕉视频直播檚 life-changing for others, too, who may not have kids yet,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 knowing like, `Wow, I may be able to play hockey a lot longer. I don香蕉视频直播檛 have to decide between having a kid and having a career. I can have both.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
That香蕉视频直播檚 a major departure for Coyne Schofield after spending the days leading up to the PWHL香蕉视频直播檚 exclusive free agency period in September worried whether she香蕉视频直播檇 get an offer.
香蕉视频直播淚t was definitely nerve-wracking,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 was like, `I don香蕉视频直播檛 know if anyone will still value me or see me like the player I was before I got pregnant.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
She need not have worried after becoming one of the first three players signed by Minnesota.
The team香蕉视频直播檚 general manager, Natalie Darwitz, said she once faced a similar choice between child and career upon being offered a job as head coach at Hamline University in Minnesota. Darwitz initially declined before the athletic director insisted they work around her schedule.
香蕉视频直播淚 think, as a society, we have to scrub our brains. This isn香蕉视频直播檛 an either-or. This isn香蕉视频直播檛, something has to give. It香蕉视频直播檚 how do we adapt?香蕉视频直播� Darwitz said.
香蕉视频直播淚 was coaching when I was pregnant, so my players would see me with the kids at the rink. And that香蕉视频直播檚 important for them to see that you can do both,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播�(The AD) instilled a big value in me, and I was able to now pay it forward. And maybe Kendall one day will be in a position to pay it forward. And that香蕉视频直播檚 how you make change.香蕉视频直播�
Toronto PWHL coach Troy Ryan is no stranger to welcoming back players after they give birth, having done so most recently with Spooner in his other job as Canada香蕉视频直播檚 national team coach.
It stunned Ryan to learn of Coyne Schofield香蕉视频直播檚 fears of being under-valued for juggling parenthood.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 unfortunate any player would have to think that way, and especially a player of her capabilities,香蕉视频直播� Ryan said. 香蕉视频直播淲e should be creating an environment where they have every opportunity to play at the highest level possible. And if we don香蕉视频直播檛 provide those opportunities, we should be ashamed of ourselves.香蕉视频直播�
Coyne Schofield said coming back from giving birth shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be any different than dealing with a player returning from a year-long injury. She said her objective to return at her best has fueled her workouts, while also being reminded of her new responsibilities as a mom each time she returns home.
香蕉视频直播淢y son is so excited to see me when I walk in the door. He doesn香蕉视频直播檛 care how tired I am. He香蕉视频直播檚 like, `Let香蕉视频直播檚 go. It香蕉视频直播檚 time to play,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Coyne Schofield said with a laugh. 香蕉视频直播淚 will say, it香蕉视频直播檚 a different tired than I香蕉视频直播檝e ever been. But it香蕉视频直播檚 the best kind of tired there is.香蕉视频直播�
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
