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 WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚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,B次元官网网址� 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 MinnesotaB次元官网网址檚 opener at Boston on Jan. 3, the game will underline Coyne SchofieldB次元官网网址檚 determination in returning to competitive play, which some questioned was possible after taking leave from the national team a year ago.

B次元官网网址淲hen I first announced my pregnancy, the first comment that I got out of a majority of peopleB次元官网网址檚 mouths were, `Oh, so youB次元官网网址檙e retiring,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Coyne Schofield recalled.

Rather than being an end, this is but a new beginning.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 31 years old and I would argue IB次元官网网址檓 still in the prime of my career,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�

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 hockeyB次元官网网址檚 Natalie Spooner, who rejoined CanadaB次元官网网址檚 roster in April some four months after having her first child.

Coyne Schofield certainly wonB次元官网网址檛 be the last at a time the international womenB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址� it was ratified on July 2, the same weekend Drew was born B次元官网网址� she said she was recently informed the league will provide a nanny for playersB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚 was almost in tears because thatB次元官网网址檚 life-changing. And itB次元官网网址檚 life-changing for others, too, who may not have kids yet,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 knowing like, `Wow, I may be able to play hockey a lot longer. I donB次元官网网址檛 have to decide between having a kid and having a career. I can have both.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 a major departure for Coyne Schofield after spending the days leading up to the PWHLB次元官网网址檚 exclusive free agency period in September worried whether sheB次元官网网址檇 get an offer.

B次元官网网址淚t was definitely nerve-wracking,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 was like, `I donB次元官网网址檛 know if anyone will still value me or see me like the player I was before I got pregnant.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

She need not have worried after becoming one of the first three players signed by Minnesota.

The teamB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚 think, as a society, we have to scrub our brains. This isnB次元官网网址檛 an either-or. This isnB次元官网网址檛, something has to give. ItB次元官网网址檚 how do we adapt?B次元官网网址� Darwitz said.

B次元官网网址淚 was coaching when I was pregnant, so my players would see me with the kids at the rink. And thatB次元官网网址檚 important for them to see that you can do both,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址�(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 thatB次元官网网址檚 how you make change.B次元官网网址�

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 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national team coach.

It stunned Ryan to learn of Coyne SchofieldB次元官网网址檚 fears of being under-valued for juggling parenthood.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate any player would have to think that way, and especially a player of her capabilities,B次元官网网址� Ryan said. B次元官网网址淲e should be creating an environment where they have every opportunity to play at the highest level possible. And if we donB次元官网网址檛 provide those opportunities, we should be ashamed of ourselves.B次元官网网址�

Coyne Schofield said coming back from giving birth shouldnB次元官网网址檛 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.

B次元官网网址淢y son is so excited to see me when I walk in the door. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 care how tired I am. HeB次元官网网址檚 like, `LetB次元官网网址檚 go. ItB次元官网网址檚 time to play,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Coyne Schofield said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚 will say, itB次元官网网址檚 a different tired than IB次元官网网址檝e ever been. But itB次元官网网址檚 the best kind of tired there is.B次元官网网址�

John Wawrow, The Associated Press