The Toronto Sceptres have one of the deepest player pools heading into camp. Here's a look at three players to watch at their camp.
With the PWHL season just around the corner, the Toronto Sceptres are set to start their training camp on November 12 in Toronto. With it comes the introduction of many new faces.
Here are a couple names to watch as Toronto looks to round out their opening night roster.
Rylind MacKinnon
One of the names coming in as a camp invite, Rylind MacKinnon, just might be one of the most intriguing players to watch in camp this year.
The 24-year-old from Cranbrook, British Columbia has been a staple of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds program for the last five seasons.
The five foot ten defender uses her size and physicality to pressure opponents standing in front of the blue paint and along the boards.
MacKinnon was also an offensive force in her time playing in U Sports scoring 81 points from the blueline in just 126 games for the Thunderbirds, good enough to become the program's all-time leading scorer as a defender. She was also named to the U Sports All-Rookie team in 2018-19 and a U Sports first team All-Star last season.
That performance did not go unnoticed by the Hockey Canada brass as MacKinnon was invited to the Canadian senior national team camp in St. Catherines, Ontario this September.
Despite not being drafted in Minnesota this June there is a legitimate chance that the U Sports standout can make it into the team's top six this season. She will have to compete with two members of last year's team in Olivia Knowles and Jessica Kondas, who both are on camp invites as well, but it’s believable that from her Hockey Canada ties, that Troy Ryan and Gina Kingsbury already have a liking for this player.
Noemi Neubauerová
Since being drafted in the fifth found this summer by the Sceptres, there has been complete silence around Noemi Neubauerova coming to North America.
Despite not having signed a contract with Toronto and playing eight games already this fall with EVZ Women's Team in Switzerland, Neubauerova has been included in the team’s training camp roster this upcoming November.
This is great news for Toronto fans. Not just because Neubauerova is willing to come from overseas, but because of the level of player the Sceptres will be one step closer to adding.
Nebubauerova plays a very physical style of game that sees her often standing in front of the net and in the corners battling for the puck. On top of the work ethic and physicality she also has a great shot and scoring ability having already tallyied four goals and four assists in her nine games with EVZ, making her a dangerous two-way player. You could see her fit right into the Sceptres bottom six this season or bump up to the second line and play a rover role.
At the age of just 24-years-old, Neubauerova has already played in 111 women’s senior national team games for Czechia, scoring 51 points while representing her country. She also helped Czechia win bronze during both the 2022 and 2023 World Championships while being named a top three player on her team during the 2022 tournament.
Before turning pro, Neubauerova played five seasons between Providence College and Colgate University where she scored 77 points in 151 games.
Anneke Linser
The crop of forwards in Toronto’s system is a source of riches that any PWHL team would envy, and Anneke Linser is no exception.
The 24-year-old Minnesota native has been a dominant offensive force at every level she has played at, terrorizing teams with her ability to shoot the puck.
Last season Linser joined Djurgårdens IF of the SDHL after her contract with the PHF’s Metropolitan Riveters was terminated as part of the PWHL’s purchase of the former league.
In 36 games with Djurgårdens IF she scored 14 goals and 31 total points leading the team in scoring.
In high school she was named a Herb Brooks award winner in 2018 after her Centennial High Cougars lost in the state championship game.
Over her five seasons in high school Linser scored 242 points in 122 career games with the Cougars and was captain in 2018.
She would stay in Minnesota and commit to play for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs of the NCAA. In five seasons with the Bulldogs, Linser scored 93 points, 43 of which were goals.
Similar to Neubauerova, Lisner will be a fight in camp to show that she deserves regular ice time with the wealth of talent Toronto has in its forward core.