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害羞草研究所檚 Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚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,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 opener at Boston on Jan. 3, the game will underline Coyne Schofield害羞草研究所檚 determination in returning to competitive play, which some questioned was possible after taking leave from the national team a year ago.

害羞草研究所淲hen I first announced my pregnancy, the first comment that I got out of a majority of people害羞草研究所檚 mouths were, `Oh, so you害羞草研究所檙e retiring,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Coyne Schofield recalled.

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 31 years old and I would argue I害羞草研究所檓 still in the prime of my career,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 Natalie Spooner, who rejoined Canada害羞草研究所檚 roster in April some four months after having her first child.

Coyne Schofield certainly won害羞草研究所檛 be the last at a time the international women害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� it was ratified on July 2, the same weekend Drew was born 害羞草研究所� she said she was recently informed the league will provide a nanny for players害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 was almost in tears because that害羞草研究所檚 life-changing. And it害羞草研究所檚 life-changing for others, too, who may not have kids yet,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 knowing like, `Wow, I may be able to play hockey a lot longer. I don害羞草研究所檛 have to decide between having a kid and having a career. I can have both.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

That害羞草研究所檚 a major departure for Coyne Schofield after spending the days leading up to the PWHL害羞草研究所檚 exclusive free agency period in September worried whether she害羞草研究所檇 get an offer.

害羞草研究所淚t was definitely nerve-wracking,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 was like, `I don害羞草研究所檛 know if anyone will still value me or see me like the player I was before I got pregnant.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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

The team害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 think, as a society, we have to scrub our brains. This isn害羞草研究所檛 an either-or. This isn害羞草研究所檛, something has to give. It害羞草研究所檚 how do we adapt?害羞草研究所� Darwitz said.

害羞草研究所淚 was coaching when I was pregnant, so my players would see me with the kids at the rink. And that害羞草研究所檚 important for them to see that you can do both,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所�(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害羞草研究所檚 how you make change.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 national team coach.

It stunned Ryan to learn of Coyne Schofield害羞草研究所檚 fears of being under-valued for juggling parenthood.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unfortunate any player would have to think that way, and especially a player of her capabilities,害羞草研究所� Ryan said. 害羞草研究所淲e should be creating an environment where they have every opportunity to play at the highest level possible. And if we don害羞草研究所檛 provide those opportunities, we should be ashamed of ourselves.害羞草研究所�

Coyne Schofield said coming back from giving birth shouldn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淢y son is so excited to see me when I walk in the door. He doesn害羞草研究所檛 care how tired I am. He害羞草研究所檚 like, `Let害羞草研究所檚 go. It害羞草研究所檚 time to play,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Coyne Schofield said with a laugh. 害羞草研究所淚 will say, it害羞草研究所檚 a different tired than I害羞草研究所檝e ever been. But it害羞草研究所檚 the best kind of tired there is.害羞草研究所�

John Wawrow, The Associated Press