Natalie Spooner Returns to Sceptres Lineup

The PWHL's Toronto Sceptres are getting a boost to their roster, as offensive powerhouse forward Natalie Spooner will return to the lineup on Tuesday night.

Spooner's long-awaited return couldn't come at a better time for the Sceptres, as the team just lost forward Sarah Nurse to injury. Nurse suffered a lower-body injury in the recent Rivalry Series game on February 6 and was placed on LTIR, which means she'll miss at least six games. The team has said she will be out of the lineup "indefinitely."

On the plus side, the Sceptres signed Laura Kluge to a standard player agreement. Kluge, who was at Sceptres training camp but had to return to Germany to fulfill military obligations, is one of Germany's top players and will help fill the gap left by Nurse's absence.

Coming out of the international break, the Sceptres are fourth in the PWHL standings with a 5-6-4 record and 19 points. The team is at the midway point of its season, with 15 games remaining, and the standings are incredibly tight as teams vie for an eventual playoff spot.

Spooner has been on long-term injured reserve since May 15, 2024 when she sustained a knee injury. She led the league in goals and points last season and received a number of accolades, from the Billie Jean King MVP award to Forward of the Year and First-Team All-Star.

The Sceptres have made two corresponding moves to make space for Spooner's return. Defender Lauren Bernard has been released from her standard player agreement and signed to a reserve contract, while forward Sam Cogan has been released from the reserve list.

The Sceptres host the Minnesota Frost for a 7 pm puck drop at Coca-Cola Coliseum in the league's first game back after the international break. Toronto is also celebrating Black History with special activations as part of Tuesday's game, which will be broadcast in Canada on Prime Video and on FanDuel Sports Network North in Minnesota. The game will also be available on YouTube.