Mitch Marner becomes a dad, misses Maple Leafs practice ahead of Game 1
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Mitch Marner had the best excuse for missing Maple Leafs practice on Sunday.
Marner’s wife, Stephanie, gave birth to a baby boy on Sunday morning.
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Mitch Marner becomes a dad, misses Maple Leafs practice ahead of Game 1 Back to video
The birth came a day before Mitch’s 28th birthday and Game 1 of the Leafs’ second-round series against the Florida Panthers.
“Obviously, he’s in a good mood,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said after practice at the Ford Performance Centre. “He’s probably flying high right now. I remember when I had my first child, and it’s a different feeling, for sure. It’s one of the best feelings you’ll ever have.
“I’m sure he’s excited. He’ll be excited (Monday) and have a little skate in the morning (prior to suiting up in the series opener). It’ll be a lot of positive things on his mind, which is good.”
Marner’s Leafs teammates naturally were thrilled for him in becoming a dad for the first him.
“It gives you tremendous perspective and meaning to life and see things really differently,” said John Tavares, a father of two boys and a girl. “Anyone becoming a parent, becoming a father, it’s pretty remarkable. For him, it has been probably really emotional, and you just try to soak it all in. Really happy for Mitchy and his wife and his family.”
While he was on baby watch, Marner played a key role in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, recording eight points in six games as the Leafs eliminated the Ottawa Senators. Marner had one goal and led the Leafs with seven assists.
“I thought he was great,” Tavares said. “It almost takes your mind away from it a little bit, wondering when it’s going to come, when it’s going to happen.
“He did a good job of focusing on playing and worrying about what he could, and knowing when the time comes, it all works out, which it did.”
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