Reigning PWHL MVP Natalie Spooner to make season debut with Sceptres after injury

Reigning PWHL MVP Natalie Spooner is set to make her highly anticipated return to the Toronto Sceptres lineup on Tuesday, following off-season knee surgery. Spooner, who was sidelined since last May after sustaining an injury during the playoffs, will make her season debut against the Minnesota Frost at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

“I’m excited to be back with my teammates and looking forward to competing next to them again,” Spooner expressed in a statement. The forward, who was named MVP and top forward in the league’s inaugural season, led all players in points (27) and goals (20) last year. Despite missing half of the Sceptres’ games this season, she is tied with Marie-Philip Poulin for the all-time PWHL goal-scoring lead with 20 goals.

“We’ve been patiently waiting for the return of Natalie Spooner,” said Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury. “We are tremendously proud of the work she has invested in getting herself to this point. This has been a long journey, and she has shown throughout this process just how elite of an athlete she is.”

However, Spooner’s return comes at a cost, as forward Sarah Nurse will be out of the lineup indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury while playing for Team Canada at the Rivalry Series. Nurse, who has recorded 12 points in 15 games for the struggling Sceptres, was moved to long-term injured reserve.

To accommodate Spooner’s return, rookie defender Lauren Bernard was moved to the reserve list, and forward Sam Cogan was released from the reserve player pool. In addition to Spooner, the team has also added German forward Laura Kluge for the remainder of the season. Kluge, who recently helped Germany secure a spot at the 2026 Olympics, impressed during the Sceptres’ training camp in the fall.

The Sceptres, currently sitting in fourth place in the league, are hoping that Spooner’s return will provide a much-needed boost as they face the Frost on Tuesday. With a recent key win over Ottawa before the break, the team aims to maintain momentum despite the loss of Nurse. The challenge will be to continue their climb up the standings and secure a playoff spot as the season progresses.