Latest news with #NatalieSpooner
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Hilary Knight, Natalie Spooner Left Unprotected For PWHL Expansion
Boston Fleet captain is one of many top stars who has been left unprotected for the PWHL's first ... More expansion to Vancouver and Seattle. (Photo by) PWHL expansion will give the league's two newest teams the opportunity to stock their rosters with some of the game's biggest stars. Phase I of the league's expansion process rolled out on Tuesday, with the release of the protected lists for the inaugural six squads. With each team allowed to protect only three players to start, plenty of big names are available to PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle. The unprotected list includes 2024 league MVP Natalie Spooner, 2025 MVP finalist Hilary Knight and other top names in the sport including forwards Sarah Nurse and Alex Carpenter, defender of the year finalists Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, and goaltenders Emerance Maschmeyer and Corinne Schroeder. Maschmeyer's availability is an indication of how quickly things can change in the women's hockey world. Originally signed as one of the Ottawa Charge's first three players, the goaltender suffered an injury in mid-March that allowed rookie Gwyneth Philips to step into the starting role. The 24-year-old proved to be more than up to the task, backstopping the Charge into their first playoff berth and then a series win over the Montreal Victoire. Though the Charge fell in four games to the Minnesota Frost in the Walter Cup finals, all four games went to overtime and Philips was named playoff MVP. Phase II of the expansion process runs from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8. Over those five days, Vancouver and Seattle will each have the opportunity to sign up to five unprotected players. The main goal of this phase is to give unprotected players some control over a possible move. If they'd like to go to one of the expansion teams, this is their chance to choose their destination. For example, Vancouver natives Hannah Miller and Jennifer Gardiner might be inclined to sign on with their hometown team. Knight, whose home base is in Idaho, could be interested in Seattle. So could Californians like Cayla Barnes and Dominique Petrie. Maschmeyer and Schroeder also both hail from Western Canada and may be interested in a chance to play closer to home. On the flip side, Spooner and Nurse both have strong roots in southern Ontario that could make them more likely to want to stay where they are. Players with expired contracts can sign with an expansion team during the window, but will not be eligible for selection in the expansion draft. That's Phase III, and will take place on Monday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The expansion draft will last at least seven rounds — and go longer if necessary, if either team goes into the draft with fewer than five players already signed. By the end of the expansion draft, each inaugural six team will have lost exactly four players, and each expansion team will have 12 players on its roster. Once any inaugural six team loses two players, either through the signing window or the expansion draft, it will be allowed to add one more name to its protected list. While some big names will be on the move, this step is intended to help balance out the magnitude of the player losses across the inaugural six teams. And once a team has lost four players, its roster will effectively be locked from further selections. Finally, Phase IV is the third PWHL entry draft. It will take place on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. ET in Ottawa. In 2024, a total of 42 players were selected by six teams over seven rounds. The 2025 draft will see 48 selections, with the eight teams each selecting six players. That will lay the foundation for the league's third season, which is expected to begin in early November of 2025. Both expansion teams now have their general managers in place. PWHL Seattle GM Meghan Hunter is the former assistant GM of the Boston Fleet — another direct connection to Knight. PWHL Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey is a native of Hensall, Ont. who played at Brown University — and briefly with PWHL executive VP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford in the first NWHL with the Brampton Thunder more than 20 years ago. Most recently, she has coached the women's team at Princeton University, overseeing the college careers of current PWHL players like Thompson, who is unprotected, and 2024 first-overall draft pick Sarah Fillier, who was protected by the New York Sirens. And while the star power that's available in expansion is undeniable, Hunter and Gardner Morey will need to be strategic in building out their rosters. While individual salary information is not public, the league does operate under a salary cap as laid out in its collective bargaining agreement. The new teams will need to be compliant within 24 hours of the first day of the 2025-26 season. This will likely be just the first PWHL expansion process. 'We're going to be a league like every other real major league, and that's our goal,' PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten told the Associated Press in late May. 'Our footprint will be across this continent and hopefully others as well.' Depending on how smooth the entry process is for Vancouver and Seattle, more teams could be added as early as 2026-27. The league also has an eye on establishing a footprint in Europe. And while Mark and Kimbra Walter will continue to bankroll the single-owner for the foreseeable future, Kasten is optimistic that profitability could be within reach by 2031. 'I see us on a very distinct upward track able to look towards seasons where we can start to turn the corner and be in the black,' he said. 'We're far away from that now and that's OK. We projected that,' he added. 'But when that happens, we can also think about expanding the schedule. And with an expanded schedule in an environment where you're finally making money, well, now there's more money for more people. 'And so I hope by then we're at that point. That would thrill me.' Other potential PWHL expansion cities that have shown well during neutral-site games include Detroit and Denver.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Sceptres coach Ryan 'unhappy' but not discouraged after another early PWHL playoff exit
Social Sharing Toronto Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan says being unhappy with the result shouldn't mean being unhappy with where the team is headed. The Sceptres fell 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday to lose its best-of-five semifinal against the defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost in four games. It's the second consecutive year Toronto has fallen to Minnesota in the semifinals despite being the higher seed entering the playoffs. Toronto finished second in the PWHL standings behind Montreal and clinched a playoff berth a week before its regular-season finale. Heise sends Frost back to PWHL Finals with OT winner that eliminates Sceptres 2 days ago Duration 1:59 The reigning Walter Cup champions will have a chance to defend their title as Taylor Heise's overtime goal lifts Minnesota to a 4-3 victory over Toronto to win their semifinal series 3-1. The Frost will face either the Montreal Victoire or the Ottawa Charge in the PWHL Finals. The Sceptres faced their share of injury troubles, especially with last season's MVP Natalie Spooner out of the lineup until Feb. 11 after knee surgery. They also lost top rookie defender Megan Carter before season's start until Jan. 25, and star forward Sarah Nurse missed almost two months before returning late March.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sceptres look to continue battling for Walter Cup after another early playoff exit
TORONTO – Toronto Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan says being unhappy with the result shouldn't mean being unhappy with where the team is headed. The Sceptres fell 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday to lose its best-of-five semifinal against the defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost in four games. It's the second consecutive year Toronto has fallen to Minnesota in the semifinals despite being the higher seed entering the playoffs. Toronto finished second in the PWHL standings behind Montreal and clinched a playoff berth a week before its regular-season finale. The Sceptres faced their share of injury troubles, especially with last season's MVP Natalie Spooner out of the lineup until Feb. 11 after knee surgery. They also lost top rookie defender Megan Carter before season's start until Jan. 25, and star forward Sarah Nurse missed almost two months before returning late March. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Ryan was content with his team's effort in Game 4 loss after two tough losses and acknowledged the difficulty of winning in the PWHL. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
National Post
08-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Sceptres look like old hands at playoff pressure in Game 1 win
It was by no means a perfect start to the Toronto Sceptres' second chase of the Walter Cup, but it was the start they needed. Article content Article content The Sceptres got off to a quick start on Wednesday night, scoring first and then adding two more before the Frost even got on the board in an eventual 3-2 win by the home side in its best-of-five semifinal with the visiting Minnesota Frost. Article content Again, turning a 3-0 lead into a nailbiter wasn't exactly ideal, but the result was the one the Sceptres came looking for, and the one they got. Article content If there was one lesson the Sceptres learned from their five-game semifinal series loss a year ago to this same Frost team, it was handling the momentum swings of a series. Article content Last year, they got up 2-0, and while the series-ending injury to Natalie Spooner certainly played a role, there was a feeling the Sceptres just didn't handle things well when Minnesota started to get a little confidence. Article content There were plenty of momentum changes on Wednesday in Game 1, but each time the Sceptres were challenged, they found an answer. Article content Minnesota got to within a goal on rookie Katie Knoll's first playoff goal 2:33 into the third period. Rather than fold into a defensive shell trying to hold the Frost off, the Sceptres went on the offensive, generating a number of quality scoring chances that forced Frost goaltender Nicole Hensley to be at the top of her game. Article content Toronto temporarily took control of the game in the second period, largely on the sniper skills of Julia Gosling. Article content Gosling was already having an eventful week before she put two pucks behind Hensley in the second frame to put Toronto up 3-0. Article content Article content On Monday, in the Sceptres' second-to-last practice before the playoffs began, Gosling lost an edge going into a corner and had to be helped from the ice. Article content Article content Initially, team medical suggested she would be fine for practice the following day (Tuesday) but that decision changed Tuesday morning as the Sceptres staff opted to err on the side of caution and kept Gosling out of practice. Article content Gosling got her first PWHL playoff goal picking off an attempted clearing pass at the Minnesota blue line. Her first shot was rejected, but the rebound popped right back to her and Gosling made good on the second attempt for a 2-0 Toronto lead. Article content Gosling's second goal was a little more traditional. It came on a Toronto power play with Hannah Miller dropping the puck back for Gosling, who picked a corner and beat Hensley clean. Article content The second period also saw the Frost get on the board and then promptly lose their only goal-scorer. Article content The ever-controversial Britta Curl-Salemme banged home a rebound on the power play to cut Toronto's lead to two goals, but minutes late got her elbow up on Renata Fast as she tried to rub her out along the boards. After a league video review, Curl-Salemme was charged with a five-minute major and ejected from the game.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sceptres set for playoff rematch against defending Walter Cup champion Frost
TORONTO – Natalie Spooner is happy to get a second crack at the post-season. Spooner and the Toronto Sceptres are locked into a best-of-five semifinal rematch against the defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women's Hockey League playoffs, with Game 1 going Wednesday at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The 34-year-old forward returned Feb. 11, a 3-2 overtime win against Minnesota, from surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee suffered in Game 3 of last season's playoffs against the Frost. Minnesota won that best-of-five series 3-2 after Toronto was up 2-0. Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner (24) chases after Minnesota Frosts' Sophie Jaques (16) during the second period of their PWHL hockey game, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston 'It feels great,' Spooner said. 'I think, obviously, it was hard at the beginning of the season to kind of see a bit of a struggle that the team went through. And I was just crossing my fingers that we'd get enough points that by the time I could come back, we'd be able to be in a good spot to make it to the playoffs. 'I think our team showed a lot of resilience through this year, and we won in a lot of different ways. And so I think there's a lot that this year has kind of taught us, and that we can bring that into the playoffs with us too.' Spooner, who had three goals and two assists in 14 games, said there is a desire to avenge last season's playoff loss. 'I think for me, for sure, and I think a lot of the girls that were there last year,' she said. 'But at the same time, we have a lot of new girls. They have some new girls, too. 'So I think any playoff game is exciting. But I think, you know, we're going to be as ready as we can for that game. … It's in the back of your mind a bit what happened last year.' The Frost (10 regulation wins, five overtime wins, four overtime losses and 11 regulation losses) took the season series 2-2-1-1 against Toronto (12-3-6-9), with three of the games going to overtime or shootout. Minnesota closed the year winning three of its last four, including an 8-1 regular-season finale win on Saturday over Boston to clinch a playoff berth. 'Natalie Spooner was a big loss for them early in the year. … I know she scored a couple of shootout goals the other day, so she's finding her scoring touch, which I think we all knew she would,' Frost head coach Ken Klee said Sunday when playoff matchups were announced. 'It's going to be a tough battle. We know that starting out on their ice, it's going to be tough. We know it's the first team to win three games, and it's not easy to do, and it's not easy to get there. Right now, we're just trying to focus on Game 1.' The Sceptres enter this post-season in a different place than last year. In the league's inaugural season, the Sceptres were sluggish to start before cruising to a first-place finish in the regular season, with Spooner leading the PWHL in goals (20) and points (27) en route to winning league MVP. Toronto enters these playoffs having not had a fully healthy lineup for majority of the season, but still finishing second in the regular-season standings. The Sceptres lost top rookie defender Megan Carter before the season, and she returned on Jan. 25. Shortly before getting Spooner back, the team lost star forward Sarah Nurse to injury for almost two months. 'I think we have all the right reasons to be confident in our group,' star defender Renata Fast said after Saturday's 2-1 OT loss to Ottawa. 'I mean, this league is so tight every single night. It's low-scoring games. It comes down to one or two plays. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up 'I think, we've been building our game all season long. I truly don't think we've hit our peak and there's no better time to do it than now. So I think the group is confident we're gonna refocus after this game and be excited to have home-ice advantage going into the playoffs.' Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan said neutral zone play will be a big factor in the matchup, as well as handling changes throughout the game. 'The importance of understanding momentum swings is really, really big,' he said. 'They're going to happen no matter what. It's just how you manage with them. 'You hear it all the time in the NHL. It's managing those big swings in a series and the big swings in a game, and if you can manage them, it'll give you a chance.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
