TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Sceptres are getting a big boost with the return of star forward Natalie Spooner.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League team announced that Spooner has been activated from long-term injured reserve and will make her season debut in Tuesday’s home game against the defending champion Minnesota Frost.
Spooner was the MVP of last year’s inaugural PWHL season, with a league-leading 20 goals and 27 points. But the 34-year-old from Toronto sustained a knee injury during the third period of Game 3 in Toronto’s semifinal playoff series against Minnesota and hadn’t played since.
“I’m excited to be back with my teammates and looking forward to competing next to them again. It was obviously a long road to get to this point and doesn’t happen without a lot of amazing people in my corner,” Spooner said in a news release.
Toronto began Tuesday in fourth place with 19 points, one fewer than third-place New York.
The Sceptres released defender Lauren Bernard from her standard player agreement and signed her to a reserve contract, while also releasing reserve Sam Cogan to make room for Spooner’s return.
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