Spooner To Make Long Awaited Return Tonight

Natalie Spooner will make her long awaited return from knee surgery tonight for the PWHL's Toronto Sceptres.

The Toronto Sceptres have activated 2024 PWHL MVP Natalie Spooner from long-term injured reserve (LTIR). Spooner will be returning to game action tonight 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. It was obviously a long road to get to this point and doesn’t happen without a lot of amazing people in my corner,” shares Spooner. “I’m very grateful for my surgical and medical team that have gotten me back to full health. Thank you to the fans and hockey community for all the well wishes and patience along the way. I can’t wait to play in front of the Toronto fans again and rock our new jerseys!”

In a corresponding move, the Sceptres released Lauren Bernard and signed her to a reserve contract, and released Sam Cogan from her reserve contract. The team also placed Sarah Nurse on long-term injured reserve and signed German free agent Laura Kluge.

Spooner was placed on LTIR on May 15, 2024, after sustaining a knee injury during the third period of Game 3 in Toronto’s semifinal playoff series against Minnesota. In the PWHL’s inaugural season, the 34-year-old from Scarborough, ON, led all players in goals (20) and points (27) and was selected a First-Team All-Star, Forward of the Year and Billie Jean King MVP Award recipient. Spooner’s efforts in the PWHL and on the international stage with Team Canada led her to being voted the IIHF Female Player of the Year.

“We’ve been patiently waiting for the return of Natalie Spooner. We are tremendously proud of the work she has invested in getting herself to this point,” explains General Manager Gina Kingsbury. “This has been a long journey, and she has shown throughout this process just how elite of an athlete she is. We are excited to see number 24 back in blue!”