All pictures supplied by Yan Huckendubler
Sourisseau’s world class profession involves an finish
Natalie Sourisseau mentioned she thrives most when put in uncomfortable conditions. The Ladies’s Nationwide Staff veteran described the moments of problem throughout her profession to be probably the most rewarding and those most contributing to her success.
After a 15-year profession of representing Canada on the worldwide stage, the veteran midfielder has formally introduced her retirement from the Ladies’s Nationwide Staff. A dynamic presence within the midfield and a frontrunner each on and off the sphere, Sourisseau leaves behind a legacy of relentless pursuit of excellence and dealing with challenges head on.
From Kelowna, BC, Sourisseau performed all sports activities rising up. Kelowna is just not a conventional hockey hotbed so when she began to pursue hockey at a better degree in highschool, it took assist from all sides to assist assist her journey. She mentioned her highschool coach taught her easy methods to be a excessive performing athlete and displays on her dad driving her into Vancouver on a weekly foundation to pursue hockey at a better degree. It’s these moments of drive and pursuit which have outlined one of many best hockey careers in Canadian historical past.
Sourisseau made her senior debut in 2011 in a check match in opposition to USA and rapidly turned a mainstay within the Canadian lineup. Over the course of her 15-year profession, she earned 184 caps (putting her inside the highest 10 cap getters in Canadian girls’s hockey) and competed in a few of the sport’s most necessary occasions, together with three Pan American Video games, two Commonwealth Video games, and the 2022 World Cup. Reflecting on her profession, she highlights some main moments on the sphere that she identifies as necessary milestones.
“The 2019 Pan Am Video games, once we beat the U.S. to advance and we wound up profitable silver. It was the perfect we had completed in fairly some time. That stands out and once more, once we beat USA and certified for the (2022) World Cup. These moments stand out,” Sourisseau mentioned. “2015 Pan Ams (in Toronto) was particular too. It’s so uncommon to have the ability to play at house in Canada on the senior degree, particularly at a serious video games. All of us had household within the stands in order that was a tremendous expertise as properly.
Like many outgoing athletes, the on-field performances are just one side of an extended profession and sometimes play a secondary position when reflecting. Sourisseau mentioned the relationships she constructed domestically and worldwide with coaches and teammates is the key takeaway from a 15-year profession.
“The issues that stick to me aren’t actually the scores or no matter occurred on the sphere. It’s the relationships with teammates. It’s having this different household. I’ve so many recollections of ridiculous issues occurring between bus rides and dancing within the changerooms, being on the lodges. It’s these issues that I keep in mind clearly.”
One second she’s having fun with a brand new metropolis the world over, the subsequent, she’s in China with Brie Stairs in a Tuk Tuk on the way in which native hospital. For Sourisseau, the particular moments typically are available between matches and outdoors the event grounds altogether.
Earlier than her senior workforce debut, Sourisseau was already turning heads on the college degree. She was named CIS Rookie of the Yr in 2010 and helped lead the UBC Thunderbirds to a few consecutive nationwide titles from 2011 to 2013.
“I all the time discover the conditions the place I develop probably the most, are the conditions the place I’m challenged probably the most.”
Her pursuit of enchancment and problem took her abroad, the place she competed within the elite Dutch league with SCHC in Utrecht (2017) and THC Hurley in Amsterdam (2018–2020). These worldwide experiences helped elevate her sport and convey totally different views again to the Canadian squad. This was one other second when Sourisseau cites that she felt the stress and comfortability of being in a brand new scenario. She mentioned, with no hesitation, that this took her sport to a brand new degree.
“There’s a home ceiling in Canada, at a sure level. You’ve most likely been the celebrity of your highschool and college workforce. I used to be outdoors my consolation zone, I needed to carry out each single day, each single follow. That simply makes you higher, and raises the ceiling of what you may obtain,” Sourisseau mentioned. “Except for the on area, you additionally simply develop as an individual, dwelling in a unique nation by yourself, having to determine all of it out. I all the time discover the conditions the place I develop probably the most, are the conditions the place I’m challenged probably the most.”
Recognized for her fierce competitiveness and tireless work ethic, Sourisseau was typically described because the engine of the Canadian midfield. Her consistency, imaginative and prescient, and management made her a task mannequin for youthful gamers and a trusted presence for coaches and teammates alike. She was typically probably the most dynamic and harmful participant on the sphere, for both workforce.
“Like many, I began out tremendous not sure of myself, by no means needed to do something fallacious. However as time went on, I discovered my place and located my voice with this group. I all the time ran a ton and labored actually arduous on the sphere,” she mentioned. “I’ve all the time been passionate and intense and attempt to play each sport with plenty of vitality, which might be contagious to your workforce. I might simply merely attempt to play with plenty of ardour and vitality.”
Sourisseau performed her closing worldwide match in February 2025 on the Nations Cup in opposition to Korea, closing the chapter on a exceptional profession that helped encourage a technology of contemporary Canadian hockey gamers. She was actually a one-of-a-kind dynamo on the sphere. She now shifts her gaze on her medical profession, coming into into her third-year clerkship and transferring ahead with additional education and work in the direction of changing into a physician. For now, she’ll be departing from the hockey scene. She mentioned she’ll be cheering on the workforce from house.
Discipline Hockey Canada wish to thank Natalie Sourisseau for her years of dedication, ardour, and management. Her impression on this system might be felt for generations to return.
