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 Women91裸聊视频檚 Hockey League91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� 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 Minnesota91裸聊视频檚 opener at Boston on Jan. 3, the game will underline Coyne Schofield91裸聊视频檚 determination in returning to competitive play, which some questioned was possible after taking leave from the national team a year ago.

91裸聊视频淲hen I first announced my pregnancy, the first comment that I got out of a majority of people91裸聊视频檚 mouths were, `Oh, so you91裸聊视频檙e retiring,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Coyne Schofield recalled.

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

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 31 years old and I would argue I91裸聊视频檓 still in the prime of my career,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�

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 hockey91裸聊视频檚 Natalie Spooner, who rejoined Canada91裸聊视频檚 roster in April some four months after having her first child.

Coyne Schofield certainly won91裸聊视频檛 be the last at a time the international women91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� it was ratified on July 2, the same weekend Drew was born 91裸聊视频� she said she was recently informed the league will provide a nanny for players91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 was almost in tears because that91裸聊视频檚 life-changing. And it91裸聊视频檚 life-changing for others, too, who may not have kids yet,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 knowing like, `Wow, I may be able to play hockey a lot longer. I don91裸聊视频檛 have to decide between having a kid and having a career. I can have both.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

That91裸聊视频檚 a major departure for Coyne Schofield after spending the days leading up to the PWHL91裸聊视频檚 exclusive free agency period in September worried whether she91裸聊视频檇 get an offer.

91裸聊视频淚t was definitely nerve-wracking,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 was like, `I don91裸聊视频檛 know if anyone will still value me or see me like the player I was before I got pregnant.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

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

The team91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 think, as a society, we have to scrub our brains. This isn91裸聊视频檛 an either-or. This isn91裸聊视频檛, something has to give. It91裸聊视频檚 how do we adapt?91裸聊视频� Darwitz said.

91裸聊视频淚 was coaching when I was pregnant, so my players would see me with the kids at the rink. And that91裸聊视频檚 important for them to see that you can do both,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频�(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 that91裸聊视频檚 how you make change.91裸聊视频�

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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 national team coach.

It stunned Ryan to learn of Coyne Schofield91裸聊视频檚 fears of being under-valued for juggling parenthood.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 unfortunate any player would have to think that way, and especially a player of her capabilities,91裸聊视频� Ryan said. 91裸聊视频淲e should be creating an environment where they have every opportunity to play at the highest level possible. And if we don91裸聊视频檛 provide those opportunities, we should be ashamed of ourselves.91裸聊视频�

Coyne Schofield said coming back from giving birth shouldn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淢y son is so excited to see me when I walk in the door. He doesn91裸聊视频檛 care how tired I am. He91裸聊视频檚 like, `Let91裸聊视频檚 go. It91裸聊视频檚 time to play,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Coyne Schofield said with a laugh. 91裸聊视频淚 will say, it91裸聊视频檚 a different tired than I91裸聊视频檝e ever been. But it91裸聊视频檚 the best kind of tired there is.91裸聊视频�

John Wawrow, The Associated Press