Toronto Sceptres place Raygan Kirk on long-term injured reserve
Some rough news on the injury front for the team in The Six.
On Monday, the Toronto Sceptres announced that they have placed goaltender Raygan Kirk on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury. In response, the team signed netminder Kassidy Sauvé to a standard player agreement (SPA).
According to the Sceptres, Kirk sustained the injury in her relief appearance against the Minnesota Frost on March 30, the team’s final game before the international break. She came in the third period after Kristen Campbell gave up four goals through 40 minutes. Kirk played the entire third period.
Even with the league’s LTIR rules, Kirk will be eligible to play when the PWHL returns to action later this month.
While Campbell has taken the reins as the starting goaltender, Kirk played some solid minutes during Toronto’s bumpy start to its second season. In 10 appearances, the rookie went 5-1-1-1 with a 2.26 goals-against-average and a .917 save percentage. She won her last three starts, making 33 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Ottawa Charge on Feb. 16.
In a release, the Sceptres stated that Kirk will be out indefinitely. That leaves Campbell to be backed up by Carly Jackson, who has yet to play a game in the PWHL, and Sauvé.
Sauvé is coming off a solid season with SDE HF in the SDHL, going 9-8-0 during the regular season with a 1.83 GAA, a .940 SV% and one shutout. Her efforts brought SDE to the semifinals, ultimately losing to Luleå HF/MSSK in three games.
The former Ohio State and Clarkson standout’s career saw her play professionally for HPK over in Finland, as well the PWHPA in the organization’s early years. He also played a few games for the Premier Hockey Federation’s Buffalo Beauts during the 2022-23 season.
The Sceptres (12-2-5-8) are second in the PWHL but have yet to clinch a playoff spot. They are three points back of the Montreal Victoire for first place and five ahead of the third-place Boston Fleet. Toronto will visit the Fleet in its first game after the break on April 26.