Toronto's Natalie Spooner (#24) skates after Minnesota's Sophie Jaques (#16) during the second period of their PWHL game on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. The match took place in Toronto. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston)
Toronto Sceptres forward Natalie Spooner made a triumphant return to the ice after a nine-month recovery from knee surgery, helping her team secure a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the defending champions, Minnesota Frost. Her comeback mirrored her return to hockey after giving birth to her son, Rory, two years ago.
Spooner, the reigning Professional Women's Hockey League MVP, assisted in the crucial victory on Tuesday night. Reflecting on her journey, she compared her recovery to her post-pregnancy return to the game. "Returning from pregnancy was a similar experience," Spooner, 34, said. "I learned to give myself grace during that time."
Though she showed some early rust, Spooner quickly found her rhythm. She nearly scored on her second shift, redirecting a shot off the post, and later missed another close chance on a power play. Despite these near misses, she felt at home on the ice again.
"I got a few chances, but they didn’t go in. I’ll get back my timing soon," Spooner said. "The main thing is, we got to win."
The victory was sealed by defender Renata Fast, who delivered a stunning game-winning goal in overtime. With just 3.7 seconds left in the extra period, she intercepted a pass in Toronto’s zone, raced down the ice, and executed a perfect backhand deke to score.
"I had no idea how much time was left," Fast admitted. "I’ve had breakaways in overtime before, and I always shot high. This time, I told myself not to do that."
Fast acknowledged Spooner's impact, saying her presence gave the Sceptres an undeniable boost. "You could feel her energy when we arrived at the rink," Fast said. "She brings so much, both on and off the ice. If she’s in front, you just shoot because she’s so good at positioning herself."
Fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum welcomed Spooner back with loud cheers and creative signs, including one featuring a fan dressed as a fork holding a sign that read, "Natalie, you complete me."
Minnesota started strong, taking a 2-0 lead with early goals from Sophie Jacques and Brooke McQuigge. Jacques scored just 83 seconds into the game on a three-on-one rush, while McQuigge extended the lead midway through the second period off a Jacques pass.
Toronto answered back with two quick goals. Hannah Miller knocked in her own rebound, and Daryl Watts followed suit less than two minutes later, levelling the score at 2-2.
The Sceptres played without star forward Sarah Nurse, who is expected to miss a few weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury while playing for Canada in a recent Rivalry Series matchup against the U.S.
