In this episode, we sit down with Toronto Furies forward Natalie Spooner. The Scarborough born player shares with us her journey from her youth power skating and  minor hockey league days, where her passion for the game first began. From this she is able to give meaningful advice to young players who share that passion today. Looking at the successful career that Natalie has worked for, it sometimes overshadows the relentless pursuit and adversity she faced in her younger years. This was the crucial time that Natalie had to spend finding her role which had her focus on becoming a confident and consistent goal scorer. Her tactics of getting the puck past other teams goalies is definitely a big tip for our young players to listen for. Her relentless work ethic didn't go unnoticed when the opportunity arose for her to play international's and represent her country in the Olympics twice. Natalie shares her emotions on both winning and losing the Olympic gold medal game and in 2014 + 2018 which is the toughest trophy to win in Women's hockey. Becoming a professional athlete is nothing short of remarkable, but the player underneath that helmet has a life away from the arena and a personality worth getting to know - especially when she was the first player to compete for the National Women’s Team, the National Women’s Under-22 Team and the National Women’s Under-18 Team.

In this episode, we sit-down with LA KINGS power forward - Austin Wagner. Here we discuss his younger playing days where he grew up in Calgary, AB as well as his junior hockey career in Regina, SK of the WHL. After his first year of playing in the NHL, Austin shares what playing in sunny California is really like but also the process of sitting through an NHL Draft, training camps, the AHL, and signing a contract. Along with all his successes, he battled plenty of adversity. He faced reconstructive shoulder surgery at a pivotal moment in his career. This is where Austins' mental toughness challenged him and his ability to become a Pro Hockey player.

Sam Gagner

Learning from an NHL father - 1:13

Playing Minor Hockey with other current NHL players - 5:48

Growing up in many cities - 8:48

ODR - 12:58

Junior Hockey 17:31

Team Canada, World Juniors - 26:24

NHL Draft - 31:49

First NHL game - 35:46

First NHL goal - 37:40

Adversity during career - 40:12

8 point NHL game - 41:42

Famous shootout move - 44:53

The business side of the game (trades) - 46:20

Advice to young players - 51:29

Favourite player growing up - 54:52

Player’s he admire today - 55:42

Toughest D-man and Goalie to play against - 55:22

Family - 59:03

Favourite Food - 1:02:52

Favourite place to travel - 1:03:17

Job other than Hockey 1:04:24

Favourite Movie - 1:04:49

Advice to younger-self 1:04:59

Life after hockey - 1:06:50

What you can expect to hear:

Started playing hockey at 10.....................(3:22)

WHL route..................................................................(4:33)

NHL draft....................................................................(12:00)

First NHL camp.....................................................(13:16)

AHL Development................................................(14:30)

Alex Ovechkin.........................................................(17:27)

Defending Sidney Crosby.............................(25:24)

Defending Connor McDavid.......................(31:12)

Summer Training with Steve....................(32:51)

Challenges faced during career.............(34:50)

Life away from the rink..................................(38:17)

Mike’s Favourites................................................(40:50)

Episode 2 of The Serdachny Hockey Podcast. Joined by New York Islanders Defensemen Thomas Hickey.