Natalie Spooner: Why She’s Not Playing, Husband & Net Worth

Natalie Spooner has spent more than a decade redefining what it means to be a professional hockey player — not just through her three Olympic medals, but by coming back from maternity leave to win the PWHL’s first MVP award. Now, as a mother on leave and a Toronto Sceptres forward recovering from injury, her career offers a real-world look at how the league handles motherhood, return-to-play timelines, and long-term athlete support.

Born: October 17, 1990 ·
Team: Toronto Sceptres (PWHL) ·
Olympic Medals: 3 (2 gold, 1 silver) ·
Position: Forward ·
Children: 1 ·
Current Status: On maternity leave

Eight key facts at a glance, one pattern: Spooner’s career has consistently defied expectations, from being Canada’s 13th forward to becoming the PWHL’s first MVP while balancing motherhood.

Who is Natalie Spooner’s husband?

Is Natalie Spooner married?

• Natalie Spooner is married, and she and her husband have a son named Rory, born on December 6, 2022 (Sportsnet).
• Her husband’s identity has not been publicly disclosed in available sources. Spooner has kept her family life largely private, a choice respected by the media.

What is known about Natalie Spooner’s spouse?

• Based on interviews, her spouse is supportive of her career, including the logistics of breastfeeding during the PWHL season (Hillberg & Berk interview with Spooner).
• No name, occupation, or public profile is available. This is consistent with Spooner’s overall approach of maintaining a boundary between her public athletic persona and her private home life.

The implication: Spooner’s decision to keep her spouse out of the spotlight allows her to focus attention on her hockey and her role as a mother, without the added pressure of public scrutiny on her family.

Why is Natalie Spooner not playing hockey?

Is Natalie Spooner on maternity leave?

Yes — Spooner is currently on maternity leave from the PWHL. After giving birth to her son Rory on December 6, 2022, she returned to play for the Canadian national team within four months and participated in the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship (Sportsnet coverage of her season-opener target). However, following the 2023–24 season, in which she won the PWHL’s first MVP award, she again took time away from the game to focus on family. She remains a member of the Toronto Sceptres and is expected to return when ready.

When will Natalie Spooner return to the ice?

• Spooner has not announced a specific return date. She initially targeted the PWHL season opener on November 30, 2024, after knee surgery, and reported to training camp on November 12, 2024 (Sportsnet).
• She eventually returned to the Sceptres lineup on February 11, 2025, picking up an assist in a 3-2 overtime win against Minnesota (The IX Hockey).
• As of the latest reports, her current absence is related to maternity leave, not injury — though she also dealt with a knee injury that landed her on long-term injured reserve from May 2024 (Sportsnet).

What this means: Spooner has demonstrated that an elite athlete can manage both high-performance hockey and motherhood, but the timeline is deeply personal. The PWHL’s maternity leave policy gives her the flexibility to choose when to return without risking her contract.

“I came back to play hockey four months postpartum to prepare for the World Championships, which were around the five-month mark.”

— Hillberg & Berk interview with Spooner

What is Natalie Spooner’s net worth?

What is Natalie Spooner’s salary?

• Exact net worth is not publicly available. Spooner does not share detailed financial figures, and no verified source reports a specific number.
• Her primary income is from her PWHL contract with the Toronto Sceptres, which includes a two-year extension signed in June 2025 (Wikipedia). PWHL salaries are not all publicly disclosed, but league minimums are known to be competitive for women’s professional hockey.
• She may also earn from endorsements, Team Canada appearance fees, and public speaking engagements. She has partnered with brands such as Hillberg & Berk.

How does Natalie Spooner earn money?

• PWHL base salary (estimated to be in the range of $35,000–$80,000 per season, based on league reports)
• Bonuses for Olympic and World Championship medals
• Sponsorship deals and personal brand partnerships
• Merchandise sales and jersey royalties

The pattern: Spooner’s net worth is a secondary concern for her — she has consistently prioritized career longevity and motherhood over maximizing earnings. The lack of a disclosed figure is common among female athletes in growing leagues.

Where does Natalie Spooner live now?

Does Natalie Spooner live in Toronto?

Spooner likely resides in the Greater Toronto Area while playing for the Toronto Sceptres, as most players live within commuting distance of their team’s home arena. Her birthplace is Scarborough, Ontario (Wikipedia), and she has strong ties to the region.

What is her hometown?

• Scarborough, Ontario — a district of Toronto — is listed as her birthplace.
• She has represented Scarborough in youth hockey and remains connected to the community.

Why this matters: Being close to home allows Spooner to raise her son near family and maintain the support network that has proven essential during her maternity leave and career transitions.

How many Olympic medals has Natalie Spooner won?

What are Natalie Spooner’s Olympic results?

• Gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
• Silver medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics
• Gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

She has won a medal at every Olympics she has competed in, making her one of the most decorated Canadian women’s hockey players of her generation. In 2014, she was named Canada’s 13th forward — a surprise selection that turned into a gold-medal breakout (CBC).

Has Natalie Spooner won gold?

Yes, twice — in 2014 and 2022. Her 2022 gold came in Beijing, where she played a key role in Canada’s dominant run, scoring three goals in the tournament (CBC).

The pattern: Spooner’s Olympic career is a study in perseverance. From being the last forward cut in 2010 to winning gold twice, she has built a legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard — she is a four-time Olympian and a role model for young athletes.

Natalie Spooner has built a career that refuses to be boxed in — Olympic gold medalist, PWHL MVP, mother, and advocate. Her journey from Canada’s 13th forward to a league superstar who took maternity leave and came back to score is reshaping what’s possible for women in professional hockey. For the Toronto Sceptres and the PWHL, the challenge is clear: continue building a system where athletes like Spooner can thrive both on the ice and at home, because the alternative is losing the very players who make the league great.

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