The shinny on Natalie Spooner

For many sports fans and nature enthusiasts, playing a game of shinny on a backyard rink or a frozen pond or wetland is as quintessentially Canadian as maple syrup and poutine. It’s how many Canadians got their feet wet in the sport. It’s also an activity that brings friends, family and neighbours together, strengthening bonds in the community while building skills, confidence and creativity.

Nobody knows this better than Natalie Spooner. The celebrated athlete, who currently plays forward with the Toronto Sceptres, is a two-time Olympic gold medallist who, in 2014, became the first player to score Olympic gold and the Clarkson Cup in the same season. She’s also been a member of 11 World Championship teams and in 2024, netted the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) inaugural Billie Jean King MVP Award, as well as the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) Female Player of the Year award.

But before that, she was just a girl growing up in Scarborough, Ont., passing the puck around with her three brothers.

“From shovelling snow off the ice to lacing up my skates rink side and skating for hours, those moments were pure magic. My older brothers never took it easy on me—I was always trying to keep up, which helped shape my competitive spirit. Looking back, I think those days of battling it out on the outdoor rink played a big role in making me the player I am today,” she recalls.

Playing hockey outdoors in the bitter Canadian winter not only helped Spooner sharpen her skills, it also gave her the chance to hone her creativity as an athlete and build resilience. Ducks Unlimited Canada is proud to team up with Spooner to share her shinny story as part of our Small Ponds, Big Goals campaign.

“Playing outdoors had a huge impact on my development as a hockey player. Without structured practices or coaches telling me what to do, I had the freedom to skate, stickhandle, and experiment with new moves. It was a place where I could be creative, trust my instincts, and just have fun,” shares Spooner.

“It also taught me about hard work. If you wanted to play, you had to shovel the snow first—no excuses. That kind of effort and dedication carried over into my game on and off the ice.” Outdoor hockey, Spooner adds, also helped her carve out a deep appreciation for nature that she might not have otherwise.

“There’s something special about being able to play outside at any time of the day, skating with the silence of nature around. I remember the feelings of the crisp air waking me up, the sound of my skates carving into the ice, and the occasional crack beneath my blades,” she says.