Toronto Sceptres Re-Sign MVP Natalie Spooner Amidst Roster Changes

On Tuesday, the Toronto Sceptres announced the re-signing of Natalie Spooner, a former MVP, on a two-year contract. Spooner, who is approaching her 35th birthday in October, had a limited season with only 14 games played due to a knee injury that required surgery. During her time on the ice this season, she accumulated five points, consisting of three goals and two assists. This injury occurred during the playoffs against Minnesota in May 2024, a season where she notably led the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in scoring with 20 goals and 27 points, earning her the league’s first MVP award.

Alongside Spooner, the Sceptres have also retained 25-year-old Jesse Compher for another two years. Compher emerged as a key player last season, contributing nine goals and nine assists over 30 games. The retention of both players is crucial for Toronto, especially after losing standout forward Sarah Nurse to the Vancouver team and three top draft picks – Julia Gosling, Izzy Daniel, and Megan Carter – to expansion selections. Furthermore, forward Hannah Miller, who performed exceptionally well last season, has also departed to Vancouver as a free agent.

In a move to enhance their roster depth, Toronto has signed goaltender Elaine Chuli and forward Claire Dalton, both from Montreal, to one-year contracts. Meanwhile, Vancouver is actively shaping its expansion roster, recently bringing aboard forwards Michela Cava and Tereza Vanisova on two-year pacts, alongside defenders Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Emma Greco with varied contract lengths. Cava, a seasoned player from Thunder Bay, Ontario, previously enjoyed success with Minnesota, and had a notable contribution to her team's scoring, while Vanisova excelled in goal-scoring this past season.

Channell-Watkins, also from Minnesota, is set to bring her championship experience to Vancouver, confirming her commitment for the upcoming season. Greco, who won a title with Minnesota during the inaugural season, lent her skills to the Boston Fleet last season and obtained a multi-year contract with Vancouver. Further roster shifts have seen Shiann Darkangelo leave the Charge for the Montreal Victoire, following another player departure after Montreal faced a similar situation with forwards Jennifer Gardiner and Abby Boreen.

Additionally, the Boston Fleet re-signed forward Susanna Tapani for a year after she finished as one of the top scorers on her team last season, while the team grapples with significant losses, including MVP candidate Hilary Knight and rookie standout Hannah Bilka to Seattle.