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National Post
6 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Losing Sarah Nurse hurt the Toronto Sceptres, but the hurting is far from over
As tough as that first week of the PWHL expansion process was here in Toronto, it's tonight's expansion draft that is really going to determine the Toronto Sceptres' future. Article content Losing a foundational and instrumental piece in Sarah Nurse during the five-day exclusive signing window for the league's two new teams was devastating on its own. Article content Article content But tonight, the Sceptres will lose three more players with the ability to add just one more to its protection loss after the next member of its roster is taken. Article content Toronto's primary issue has to be goaltending. In Kristen (Soupy) Campbell, they have a goalie who can be lights out for long stretches of time and won the league's goaltender of the year in Season 1, but has shown a penchant — three stretches over the first two seasons — in which her game falls apart. Article content It occurred to begin the year in Season 1 before Campbell rallied and then again early in the season in year two. Then it fell apart in the playoffs, at the worst possible time as the Sceptres went from a 1-0 series lead and a hold on Game 2 to losing that game and eventually the series, with suspect goaltending high on the list of reasons why that happened. Article content Backup Raygan Kirk was able to step in during the regular season this past year and righted the ship, going 5-1 in her rookie season in the PWHL. But Kirk got hurt just before the season ended and was unavailable when Campbell tilted in the playoffs. Article content Which brings us to tonight's expansion draft where the Sceptres will lose three more players. Article content Both expansion clubs in Vancouver and Seattle have already signed a goaltender but there's a very good chance they will be looking to get some insurance at that position in tonight's draft. Article content Kirk, who had the advantage of both youth and what we assume is a cap-friendly contract could very well be one of those young goaltenders that is being targeted tonight. Article content If Toronto does view Kirk, as we think they do, as the future in the Toronto net, they may have to spend their fourth on final protection on her. Of course, that's assuming they even get to that point before Kirk's name is heard. Article content The likely bet, and this will come as another blow to the Toronto fanbase, is that the next member of the Sceptres' roster to be cherry-picked by one of the incoming teams will be fan favourite Emma Maltais. It will be after that selection that Sceptres' GM Gina Kingsbury will have to determine whether to use that final protection on a goaltender who has made a total of seven starts and played in just 10 games for this team.
National Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
With expansion draft looming, it really is the end of a Sceptres era
Article content For the second year in a row, the Toronto Sceptres season came to a premature end at the hands of the Minnesota Frost. Article content Article content The defending Walter Cup champs put themselves in position to win a second title with a determined offensive push and a never-say-die attitude that has served them well throughout two PWHL seasons. Article content Taylor Heise, who will go down in league history as the first ever pick in a PWHL draft, ended this one 16 minutes into overtime on a well-placed shot from the top of the circle with the big body of Brooke McQuigge and Toronto defender Kali Flanagan ensuring goalkeeper Carly (CJ) Jackson never saw the shot until it was already by them. Article content It was a heartbreaking loss for a team that ran into a goaltending problem at the worst possible time of the year that put them in a hole out of which they did not escape. Article content The Sceptres had a 1-0 lead in this series and looked poised to make that 2-0 before a pair of harmless-looking shots found their way past Toronto starting goaltender Kristen (Soupy) Campbell, letting Minnesota back into the series. Article content Once back, the Frost did not falter steam-rolling the Sceptres in Game 3 in a 7-5 derby that set a record for goals scored in a PWHL game. Article content A 3-0 deficit just under eight minutes into that one, this time an overall team defensive letdown as opposed to strictly soft goals, was the culprit. Article content And while Game 4 was the ultimate eliminator for the Sceptres, it was a game of few regrets for the losing side, short of the final result. Article content Article content 'I think tonight's game, the feeling that I have as a coach, I'm incredibly proud of the effort, the attitude, the playing within our team structure, the battle level and the compete level our team showed throughout that game,' head coach Troy Ryan said. 'I think the way Game 2 and Game 3 ended, our team could have taken an easier route in this one but I thought they showed a ton of character in battling this one right to the end.' Article content Article content Perhaps the saddest part about coming up short this year is it probably means the core of this team as constructed coming into the inaugural season and maintained into Year 2 will never get the chance to see what they could do in a Final. Article content Expansion is already here and that means two new teams in the PWHL in Vancouver and Seattle next year and with it will come at least some dismantling of the core of the club GM Gina Kingsbury and Ryan put together to bring Toronto championships. The league has made its intent clear from the beginning of the expansion process. The goal is to make the incoming teams competitive to start and that means all existing teams will have some of their key roster components stripped away. Article content We don't how deep the cuts will go just yet, but there is talk that even the foundational players, the three original picks the league's six original clubs made in advance of the first draft, could be exposed in the draft.
Toronto Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Sceptres goal hasn't changed, but their margin for error has been erased
Get the latest from Mike Ganter straight to your inbox Toronto Sceptres goaltender Kristen Campbell watches the puck go past her for a goal by Minnesota Frost's Lee Stecklein. AP Photo The goal when the Toronto Sceptres left Toronto on Saturday to down to Minnesota and continue its best-of-five semifinal with the Frost was to go get one win. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account That goal has not changed. There's just no longer any wiggle room in when they get that win. After Sunday's 7-5 blowout by the Frost, it will have to come Wednesday or the Sceptres off-season will being a little earlier than they had hoped, but little has changed otherwise. Head coach Troy Ryan does not expect to change the game plan much because he has liked the results when the team has executed. Sure, he would like better execution of it for longer periods of time, but when the Sceptres have adhered to it, they have had success. What does need to change is the play he's getting from his goaltender. Kristen (Soupy) Campbell has company in this series in goalies who would like to have a few shots back with Frost netminder Maddie Rooney, but while Rooney has let a few get by her that normally wouldn't, Campbell has had hers come in bunches. Specifically, two in the final six minutes of Game 2 that the Sceptres lost by two goals and then three in the first 7:42 of Game 3 that the Scepters again would go on to lose by two goals. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ryan, like his rival on the Minnesota bench Ken Klee, has not decided yet who he will put between the pipes for a do-or-die contest for Toronto Game 4. But, unlike Klee, he's not going to be picking between two tested netminders. Because of an injury to backup Raygan Kirk suffered in Minneapolis in the fourth-to-last game of the regular season, Ryan — if he chooses to sit Campbell for Game 4 — would be going to Carly Jackson, who has played all of one game in two season for the Sceptres. That, of course, was a win in the second-last game of the season just a couple of weeks ago, but that's still just 60 minutes of actual game experience in the PWHL. Klee could go back to Game 1 starter Nicole Hensley, flipping between the two Minnesota backstops as he has done for most of their first two seasons in the league together. Clearly that's not the kind of gamble Ryan would be considering. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ryan said he purposefully didn't go to Jackson after those quick three goals Campbell let in on Sunday, so if he did choose to use them in Game 4, Jackson would come in fresh without having to start with a deficit. He has given some thought to making a change in the Sceptres net already, but it still sounds like he's leaning towards sticking with Campbell. 'We have trust in Soupy,' Ryan said. 'Soupy has had some up and down games throughout the year, but ultimately we have trust in Soupy and ultimately want her to find ways to battle. 'It might sound a little bit cliché, but I really don't believe it's the coaches job or anybody else's job to provide confidence for an individual athlete,' Ryan said. 'I think the onus is on that athlete to do what she needs to do to be confident so we have shown confidence in Soupy and that's really all we can do in that area. I think the rest is up to her. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'She is a very good goalie, a driven athlete,' Ryan continued. 'I believe she is a confident athlete, just when a goalie doesn't have a start they are happy with it doesn't necessarily mean their confidence is completely shot. I think sometimes we assume some goals you want to get back are confidence related and I don't necessarily believe that with Soupy. I believe she is a confident goalie and just would like some of those back and would like a better start.' Neither the Frost nor the Sceptres were on the ice Monday after playing three games in the previous five days on top of a travel day worked into that short timeframe. But both teams will be back on the ice Tuesday and Toronto defender Renata Fast says that despite back-to-back losses, her team remains very confident and feeling good about the way they have played for the most part in the series. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Honestly I actually think the team is in a pretty good spot,' Fast said. 'Troy talked about it before. I think we have been very happy with the way we have played in a lot of the periods so far this series. 'We have had buy-in from the entire group,' Fast continued. 'We've put together a 60-minute game for some of the games (Game 1) so I think there's a lot to fall back on and be confident about. I think a lot of the things in (Sunday's) game are things we can adjust on our end. They are mistakes we made and know we can do better so I honestly think the team is in a pretty good headspace.' It's going to have to be — from the goalie on out — if this series is to see a fifth and deciding game Saturday in Toronto. mganter@ Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists Editorial Cartoons World Wrestling
National Post
12-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Toronto Sceptres goal hasn't changed, but their margin for error has been erased
The goal when the Toronto Sceptres left Toronto on Saturday to down to Minnesota and continue its best-of-five semifinal with the Frost was to go get one win. Article content Article content That goal has not changed. There's just no longer any wiggle room in when they get that win. After Sunday's 7-5 blowout by the Frost, it will have to come Wednesday or the Sceptres off-season will being a little earlier than they had hoped, but little has changed otherwise. Article content Head coach Troy Ryan does not expect to change the game plan much because he has liked the results when the team has executed. Article content Sure, he would like better execution of it for longer periods of time, but when the Sceptres have adhered to it, they have had success. Article content What does need to change is the play he's getting from his goaltender. Kristen (Soupy) Campbell has company in this series in goalies who would like to have a few shots back with Frost netminder Maddie Rooney, but while Rooney has let a few get by her that normally wouldn't, Campbell has had hers come in bunches. Article content Specifically, two in the final six minutes of Game 2 that the Sceptres lost by two goals and then three in the first 7:42 of Game 3 that the Scepters again would go on to lose by two goals. Article content Ryan, like his rival on the Minnesota bench Ken Klee, has not decided yet who he will put between the pipes for a do-or-die contest for Toronto Game 4. But, unlike Klee, he's not going to be picking between two tested netminders. Article content Because of an injury to backup Raygan Kirk suffered in Minneapolis in the fourth-to-last game of the regular season, Ryan — if he chooses to sit Campbell for Game 4 — would be going to Carly Jackson, who has played all of one game in two season for the Sceptres. Article content That, of course, was a win in the second-last game of the season just a couple of weeks ago, but that's still just 60 minutes of actual game experience in the PWHL. Article content Klee could go back to Game 1 starter Nicole Hensley, flipping between the two Minnesota backstops as he has done for most of their first two seasons in the league together. Clearly that's not the kind of gamble Ryan would be considering. Article content Ryan said he purposefully didn't go to Jackson after those quick three goals Campbell let in on Sunday, so if he did choose to use them in Game 4, Jackson would come in fresh without having to start with a deficit. Article content He has given some thought to making a change in the Sceptres net already, but it still sounds like he's leaning towards sticking with Campbell. Article content 'We have trust in Soupy,' Ryan said. 'Soupy has had some up and down games throughout the year, but ultimately we have trust in Soupy and ultimately want her to find ways to battle. Article content 'It might sound a little bit cliché, but I really don't believe it's the coaches job or anybody else's job to provide confidence for an individual athlete,' Ryan said. 'I think the onus is on that athlete to do what she needs to do to be confident so we have shown confidence in Soupy and that's really all we can do in that area. I think the rest is up to her.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can The Toronto Sceptres Risk Another Kristen Campbell Start?
Death and taxes. Toronto hockey and goaltending questions. They're all certainties. While the Toronto Maple Leafs dominated these headlines for decades (and they still have had their share of goaltending questions this playoff run), this time around, it's the Toronto Sceptres joining the conversation. Kristen Campbell is known as a flow goaltender. When she finds her groove, she's as solid as anyone. Last year that resulted in Campbell earning PWHL Goaltender of the Year honors. When she's out of her groove, few fall harder. Unfortunately for Campbell, these slumps have often come at inopportune times, including in recent attempts to earn time with Team Canada at the Rivalry Series, and in their national team camps. This time around, after a steady season between the pipes for the Sceptres, and a strong win in game one of the 2025 Walter Cup playoffs, Campbell has stumbled mightily. In game one, Campbell stopped 24 of 26 shots for a respectable 2.00 GAA and 0.923 save percentage. In games two and three? Campbell posted a 6.15 GAA and .755 save percentage. It included a 5-3 and a 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Frost. Toronto has gone from up 1-0 to down 2-1 in their best-of-five series in a blink. Now only one loss away from a second straight upset at the hands of the Minnesota Frost, the question becomes... It wasn't just the number of goals Kristen Campbell has allowed, it's how she's allowed them. In both of the last two games, Campbell has allowed goals on shots she'd clearly want back, and that fall into being expected saves. The problem in sports however, is that you can't have them back, and expected doesn't equate to outcome. From shots hitting Campbell in the glove, to the inability to smother rebounds, to pucks seemingly finding their way directly through Campbell's body without a screen, it's been a challenge to watch the reigning PWHL Goaltender of the Year struggle. Toronto, however, is in a precarious spot. Their backup, Raygan Kirk remains on long term injured reserve, and beyond Campbell, the remainder of Toronto's netminding group, CJ Jackson and Kassidy Sauve, have a combined total of one career PWHL appearance to their names. That game came in the final week of the season when Jackson earned a 25 save shootout win over the New York Sirens in their PWHL debut. There's no easy answer here for the Sceptres. In all likelihood, Troy Ryan will run it back once again with Campbell and hope for the best. It's a risk. Jackson has been the goalie on the bench for the Sceptres, and in Sunday's 7-5 loss, it was surprising Toronto didn't give their current backup a shot. Sauve had a spectacular year in the SDHL with SDE HF posting a 1.83 GAA and .940 save percentage before stealing a playoff series from MoDo. But putting in a goaltender who has never even backed up a game in the PWHL would be the type of risk that threatens a coaches job, not just the outcome of a series or game. There's no doubt Sauve is capable, but it's not a move almost any coach would make. In any other world, CJ Jackson should be in the crease for game four. But the goaltending environment in the PWHL isn't any other world. What's more likely, is Kristen Campbell gets one more shot to prove she can be a big game goalie. It will come in a must-win situation, or the season is over for the Toronto Sceptres. The weight of two seasons is resting on Campbell's shoulders with a win or go home game four ahead.
