Toronto Sceptres’ Natalie Spooner to miss start of 2024-25 season, no timeline for return
Some concerning news for one of the game’s top players.
On the opening day of training camp on Tuesday, Gina Kingsbury, general manager of the Toronto Sceptres, revealed that forward Natalie Spooner will not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season.
Natalie Spooner will miss the Toronto Sceptres opening game on Nov. 30.
GM Gina Kingsbury just tells the media now.
Spooner scored 20 goals in 24 game for Toronto last season and picked up an injury in the playoffs.
Spooner suffered a torn ACL during last year’s semifinal series against Minnesota, which required immediate surgery, ending her season. The loss of the PWHL’s leading scorer hurt Toronto, as they blew a 2-0 series lead to the eventual Walter Cup champions.
Kingsbury confirmed that Spooner is out indefinitely.
“There is no timeline for her,” Kingsbury said. “We will work with her here deliberately throughout this recovery process on getting her healthy and back on the ice.”
The Scarborough, Ontario native reportedly had been rehabbing and recently started skating with the intention that she would be ready in time for the Sceptres’ home opener on Nov. 30 against the Boston Fleet. Kingsbury stated that Spooner is in good spirits, all things considered.
“She’s doing really well. As you can imagine, her positivity, her approach, her work ethic, all helps her heal much faster than most people, I would say. But we’ll be very careful on making sure she’s ready to go at 100 per cent and not putting her at more risk.”
Spooner, who was named the IIHF Female Player of the Year after helping Team Canada reclaim gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, led the PWHL with 20 goals in 24 games, adding a goal and an assist in her three postseason appearances. She also led the league with 27 points, earning her the Billie Jean King MVP Award.
Even without Spooner for the near future, the Sceptres expect to have another great run in the PWHL’s second season. The team finished with the best record in the league last season (13-4-0-7), and brought in a plethora of talented faces, including Toronto natives Daryl Watts and Emma Woods, to compliment a returning core featuring captain Blayre Turnbull, Renata Fast and goaltender Kristen Campbell.