Sceptres forward Natalie Spooner activated off LTIR, will make debut against Frost

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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 most valuable player 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.

Toronto entered Tuesday’s game 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.

“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 release.

While Spooner’s return should help the Sceptres, the team will be without star forward Sarah Nurse, who was placed on the long term injury list on Monday because of a lower body injury she suffered during a Rivalry Series games against the United States on Feb. 6 in Halifax.

Nurse, who also plays a leading role on Canada’s national team, collided with Jesse Compher of the U.S. (her teammate on the Sceptres) and did not return to the ice.