Daughter of 1980s Toronto Maple Leafs player added to Canada's national soccer team

The daughter of a former NHLer is making her mark in the world of soccer.

Brooklyn Courtnall, daughter of Russ Courtnall and niece of Geoff Courtnall, has been added to the roster for the Canadian women's national soccer team ahead of two friendlies against Denmark in Montreal and Toronto on Oct. 9 and Oct. 12.

It's the first time the women's national team has played in Canada in over a year, since they faced Costa Rica in Toronto on June 27, 2025.

The two friendlies represent the last chance for Canada to prepare for the 2026 Concacaf Women's Championship. The single-elimination tournament will serve as the qualifiers for both the 2027 Women's World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Courtnall was not on the initial roster for the two friendlies; her late addition to the roster gives her a chance to prove she deserves a chance to play at the World Cup.

The 23-year-old defender has been playing professionally in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for the past two years and represented Canada at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Courtnall made her senior team debut at the invitational SheBelieves Cup, playing in two matches against Colombia and Argentina.

Her father, Russ Courtnall, played 16 seasons in the NHL. He was a first-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs and scored 90 goals in parts of six seasons with the Leafs.

The Hound Line. Gary Leeman, Russ Courtnall and Wendel Clark all played together for the famed Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Saskatchewan. #Leafs #LeafsForever HT @JoJoDoggieDoo https://t.co/eHWgIWMAoa

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) March 19, 2022

Russ went on to play for the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars before briefly joining his brother, Geoff Courtnall, with the Vancouver Canucks in the 1994-95 season.

While Geoff returned to the St. Louis Blues after that season, Russ played two more seasons in Vancouver before wrapping up his career with stints with the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.