Mitch Marner says newborn son “was smart enough” to avoid game day delivery and he’s already back on the ice

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 6, 2025, 01:30 IST

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Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs experienced a whirlwind 48 hours, welcoming his first child, Miles, with his wife Stephanie, and then immediately preparing for Game 1 of the second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers. Despite the lack of sleep, Marner expressed his excitement and readiness, joking about his son's perfect timing.

Mitch Marner says newborn son “was smart enough” to avoid game day delivery and he’s already back on the ice

Apr 17, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) skates during the warmup before a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Talk about picture-perfect timing! Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner just had what might be the most eventful 48 hours of his life, becoming a dad and prepping for Game 1 of a crucial second-round playoff series. With baby Miles arriving just in time, Marner is now officially balancing late-night feeds and late-night faceoffs and fans couldn’t be more thrilled.

Mitch Marner welcomed baby Miles just hours before Leafs’ big playoff opener

On Sunday night, Mitch Marner and his wife Stephanie welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Miles. Just 26 hours later, Marner was back on the ice, suiting up for the Leafs' Monday night matchup against the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“It’s a really special moment… it’s hard to explain,” Marner said, beaming during his media availability. “As a parent, I think everyone feels it, but it’s something really cool.”

Despite a whirlwind day and a night spent at the hospital, the newly minted dad seemed in high spirits and fully game-ready. “I was just trying to support my wife as much as possible,” he added. “Just tried to help out as much as I could.”

Marner jokes baby Miles avoided arriving on a game day and Maple Leafs fans eat it up

Marner didn’t miss a beat when it came to timing and apparently, neither did baby Miles. Joking with reporters, the 28-year-old winger said, “My son was lucky enough — smart enough — to know don’t come on a hockey day.”
The Marner family had actually planned for a potential emergency mid-series trip from Ottawa back to Toronto, but it turns out Miles was more of a team player than expected. “We wanted to try to end that series and get the baby coming out before the next one started,” Marner laughed. “It worked out.”
Leafs fans quickly ran with the moment, flooding social media with congratulatory messages and memes about Marner’s “dad powers” kicking in just in time for the playoff push.

Whether it’s fate, timing, or just good planning, Marner’s son arriving right before Round 2 could be the good luck charm that Leafs fans have been waiting for. With his head coach confident, teammates pumped, and fans rallying behind him, Marner’s new chapter off the ice might just be the boost Toronto needs to make a deep playoff run.
Let’s see if baby Miles brings that championship baby magic to the ice. After all, smart kids run in the family.
Also read - “This the yearski”: Justin Bieber’s latest Maple Leafs post has fans fired up for playoff glory

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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