All photos provided by Yan Huckendubler
Sourisseau’s world class career comes to an end
Natalie Sourisseau said she thrives most when put in uncomfortable situations. The Women’s National Team veteran described the moments of challenge during her career to be the most rewarding and the ones most contributing to her success.
After a 15-year career of representing Canada on the international stage, the veteran midfielder has officially announced her retirement from the Women’s National Team. A dynamic presence in the midfield and a leader both on and off the field, Sourisseau leaves behind a legacy of relentless pursuit of excellence and facing challenges head on.
From Kelowna, BC, Sourisseau played all sports growing up. Kelowna is not a traditional hockey hotbed so when she started to pursue hockey at a higher level in high school, it took support from all sides to help support her journey. She said her high school coach taught her how to be a high performing athlete and reflects on her dad driving her into Vancouver on a weekly basis to pursue hockey at a higher level. It’s these moments of drive and pursuit that have defined one of the greatest hockey careers in Canadian history.
Sourisseau made her senior debut in 2011 in a test match against USA and quickly became a mainstay in the Canadian lineup. Over the course of her 15-year career, she earned 184 caps (placing her inside the top 10 cap getters in Canadian women’s hockey) and competed in some of the sport’s most important events, including three Pan American Games, two Commonwealth Games, and the 2022 World Cup. Reflecting on her career, she highlights some major moments on the field that she identifies as important milestones.
“The 2019 Pan Am Games, when we beat the U.S. to advance and we wound up winning silver. It was the best we had done in quite a while. That stands out and again, when we beat USA and qualified for the [2022] World Cup. Those moments stand out,” Sourisseau said. “2015 Pan Ams [in Toronto] was special too. It’s so rare to be able to play at home in Canada at the senior level, especially at a major games. We all had family in the stands so that was an amazing experience as well.
Like many outgoing athletes, the on-field performances are only one aspect of a long career and often play a secondary role when reflecting. Sourisseau said the relationships she built domestically and worldwide with coaches and teammates is the major takeaway from a 15-year career.
“The things that stick with me aren’t really the scores or whatever happened on the field. It’s the relationships with teammates. It’s having this other family. I have so many memories of ridiculous things happening between bus rides and dancing in the changerooms, being at the hotels. It’s those things that I remember clearly.”
One moment she’s enjoying a new city across the world, the next, she’s in China with Brie Stairs in a Tuk Tuk on the way local hospital. For Sourisseau, the special moments often come in between matches and outside the tournament grounds altogether.
Before her senior team debut, Sourisseau was already turning heads at the university level. She was named CIS Rookie of the Year in 2010 and helped lead the UBC Thunderbirds to three consecutive national titles from 2011 to 2013.
“I always find the situations where I grow the most, are the situations where I am challenged the most.”
Her pursuit of improvement and challenge took her overseas, where she competed in the elite Dutch league with SCHC in Utrecht (2017) and THC Hurley in Amsterdam (2018–2020). These international experiences helped elevate her game and bring different perspectives back to the Canadian squad. This was another moment when Sourisseau cites that she felt the pressure and comfortability of being in a new situation. She said, with no hesitation, that this took her game to a new level.
“There is a domestic ceiling in Canada, at a certain point. You’ve probably been the superstar of your high school and university team. I was outside my comfort zone, I had to perform every single day, every single practice. That just makes you better, and raises the ceiling of what you can achieve,” Sourisseau said. “Aside from the on field, you also just grow as a person, living in a different country on your own, having to figure it all out. I always find the situations where I grow the most, are the situations where I am challenged the most.”
Known for her fierce competitiveness and tireless work ethic, Sourisseau was often described as the engine of the Canadian midfield. Her consistency, vision, and leadership made her a role model for younger players and a trusted presence for coaches and teammates alike. She was often the most dynamic and dangerous player on the field, for either team.
“Like many, I started out super unsure of myself, never wanted to do anything wrong. But as time went on, I found my place and found my voice with this group. I always ran a ton and worked really hard on the field,” she said. “I’ve always been passionate and intense and try to play every game with a lot of energy, which can be contagious for your team. I would just simply try to play with a lot of passion and energy.”
Sourisseau played her final international match in February 2025 at the Nations Cup against Korea, closing the chapter on a remarkable career that helped inspire a generation of modern Canadian hockey players. She was truly a one-of-a-kind dynamo on the field. She now shifts her gaze on her medical career, entering into her third-year clerkship and moving forward with further schooling and work towards becoming a doctor. For now, she’ll be departing from the hockey scene. She said she’ll be cheering on the team from home.
Field Hockey Canada would like to thank Natalie Sourisseau for her years of dedication, passion, and leadership. Her impact on the program will be felt for generations to come.
