PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

By Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press on November 12, 2024.

Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney (35) makes a save on Toronto's Natalie Spooner (24) during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Friday, May 10, 2024. Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Spooner is set to miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.