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Maria Samson stood with her Canadian women’s rugby teammates as they received their silver medals at the World Cup last summer in Paris.

It was an emotional moment.

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All total, she has played 19 times for the national team.

They were all special moments.

But Saturday at Calgary Rugby Park when she suits up for Canada’s opening game of the Women’s Rugby Super Series against New Zealand (6:30 p.m.), it might be the most emotional game the 32-year-old lock has ever played.

Her father Wojciech died on May 29 after long battling Lewy Body dementia.

“This weekend for me, there’s going to be times where it’s going to be tough and I know that,” she said. “I’ve had past players from both the men’s and women’s team reach out to me and say ‘have a stormer for your dad looking down.’

“That definitely hits home and I have to be sure that I can control my emotions and make sure that I don’t go into a tailspin — make sure all my thoughts about my dad are driving me forward and being positive. He would be proud of my performance. It can’t be an emotional one.