Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner and wife Stephanie are basking in the newborn phase with their baby boy, Miles Daniel Marner. On Sunday, the Toronto Maple Leafs PR announced that the pair had welcomed their first child, and that the assistant captain would be absent from practice.
Marner returned to the ice on Monday for Game 1 of the second round of playoffs against the Florida Panthers. Prior to the game, the new dad spoke to reporters about the birth of his son.
“Really exciting, obviously it was the birth of our son, so, very special moment, just an incredible moment,” Marner said. “It’s hard to explain as a parent, everyone feels it, it’s something really cool.”
The athlete didn’t hold back when it came to praising his wife and her strength during the labour.
“I mean, I just sat there and cheered,” Marner said. “My wife was an absolute beast through it all, she was so impressive to watch, you know what a woman’s body can do, how much strength they have. It was incredibly impressive to sit there and watch, and just kind of be her cheerleader for two days, and it was something really special to watch and be part of. I’m a lucky guy, for sure.”
Marner said that the pair had made plans in case Stephanie delivered their son during the first round of playoffs, when he was in Ottawa.
“Family always comes first, so if something happened during that series, I was going to go and join her and be her cheerleader there,” he said. “Lucky enough it didn’t happen, my son was smart enough to know not to come on a hockey day.”
Leafs fans flocked to social media to share their well wishes with the new parents.
“Congratulations, Mitch and Stephanie!” an Instagram user wrote alongside a blue heart emoji.
“Please, please, please win for new dad Mitch on his birthday tomorrow!” another added.
The newborn baby news comes a day before Marner’s 28th birthday on May 5. The Leafs are also set to open their second-round series against Stanley Cup champions the Florida Panthers on Monday night in Toronto.
It’s been a season full of fatherhood for the Leafs. In September, defenceman Simon Benoit and longtime girlfriend Alice Desaulniers welcomed their first child together, a baby girl. Earlier last year in August, Olympian Tessa Virtue and defenceman Morgan Rielly announced the birth of their baby son.
In February, it was revealed that Marner and partner Stephanie were expecting a baby boy. At the time, a social media account about the team called Maple Leaf News posted a photo — originally shared by Jake McCabe’s wife Gaby — showing what appeared to be a baby shower invitation.
Mitch Marner and Stephanie LaChance first started dating in 2015 and eventually tied the knot in 2023. (Photo by GP Images/Getty Images)
“Congratulations to Mitch Marner and his wife Steph who are expecting a baby boy,” the Maple Leaf News account wrote, sharing photo where the invitation said “Oh boy! Welcome baby Marner. Love your Lady Leafs.”
Marner and Stephanie got married in July 2023 at Peller Estates winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Numerous current and former Leafs players attended the wedding, including John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Rasmus Sandin, James Van Riemsdyk, Joe Thornton, Zach Bogosian and Tyson Barrie.
The couple have been dating since 2015. They both grew up in Markham, Ont., and went to school together. However, they reportedly reconnected on Stephanie’s 19th birthday while she was attending Western University in London, Ont.
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