PLAYER PROFILE – Natalie Spooner plays as a forward for the Toronto Sceptres. She has been playing for teams in the Greater Toronto Area for most of her life. She was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, on October 17, 1990.
Natalie Spooner: A Key Toronto Sceptres Player
Childhood and Personal Life
Spooner’s parents are English immigrants who immigrated to Canada from England in 1974 (Source: Kristina Rutherford of Sportsnet).
Despite her parents not having an ice hockey background, Natalie Spooner still found her love with the game of hockey (Source: Hillberg and Berk):
Her father, Peter Spooner, was a former rugby player. He said this about his daughter:
In that same article, Spooner was voted as athlete of the year four times in a row in high school. Natalie Spooner had a knack for playing sports, which played a big role in her getting to the level she is at now.
Natalie Spooner also has three brothers. Two of them play ice hockey currently. One of her brothers, Rick, played for the Wisconsin Badgers and now plays for the Seattle ESB. This is while one of her other brothers, Doug, plays for the Waterloo Warriors in Ontario.
Ohio State (College)
Spooner would make history at Ohio State. She became the program’s all-time leading scorer for the program after just the midway mark of her final senior year.
Her head coach at the time, Nate Handrahan, said this in The Lantern, Ohio State’s university paper on Spooner:
“One of the most explosive players in the country. She does very special things on the ice.”
Those special things she does on the ice can also be reflected in her stats with Ohio State, as listed by the Ohio State Buckeyes website:
Professional Career
Toronto Furies (2012-19)
Drafted seventh overall in the 2012 CWHL Draft, Spooner made an immediate impact. She would finish second in scoring for the Furies in her rookie year.
This included having her four-point game in her CWHL debut on the road against the Brampton Thunder. The Furies would win 4-3, with Spooner getting an assist and a hat-trick in the game.
When looking through most of the Toronto Furies’ history (2011-19), Spooner had the most points for the team all-time, with 119 points. The next player, Carolyne Prévost, had 94 points. Spooner also led the team all-time in assists and goals. She was also part of the 2014 Clarkson Cup-winning team. Nurse was most known for scoring the shootout winner against the Montreal Stars.
This allowed the Furies to finish second in the Clarkson Cup playoff round robin. They would then defeat the Boston Blades by a score of 1-0 to win the 2014 Clarkson Cup. Spooner was even made captain of the Furies team before the start of the 2016 CWHL season.
After the CWHL and the Furies folded, Spooner played for the PWHPA for Toronto until the successor to the PWHPA, the PWHL, was formed.
Toronto Sceptres (2023-Present)
Originally named the PWHL Toronto team, Spooner made quite an impression on the team. She led the league in goals scored and points. She was named MVP and Forward Player of the Year in 2024. Spooner also scored the first-ever goal in franchise history of the now Toronto Sceptres team in a 3-2 win against PWHL New York (now the New York Sirens) on January 5, 2024.
It is not just what she does on the ice, though that is so valuable. This is what the Toronto Sceptres head coach, Troy Ryan, said about having Spooner on the road trip despite being injured at the time (Source: Curtis Martin of The Hockey News):
“Adding Spooner to the mix for a longer road trip like this is very valuable. She brings a ton of energy, a ton of attitude, and she just brings a different level of confidence,” said Ryan. “I know today during the game day skate, she was trying to help Julia Gosling with some net front play. Those things are so valuable, especially when they come from a personality like Spoons.”
READ MORE: Toronto Sceptres Were Dominant in Win Over The Montreal Victoire
Unfortunately, Spooner has been injured most of the season because of an injury she suffered in game 3 of the PWHL playoff semi-finals against PWHL Minnesota (now the Minnesota Frost).
Saying that, Spooner is said to have a positive attitude off the ice, which is invaluable for the team as they look to make some noise in the PWHL playoffs this year.
Hockey Canada (2011-Present)
Spooner already has a decorated career with Hockey Canada. This includes winning Olympic Gold Medals in 2014 and 2022 as well as many World Championship medals, including winning Gold in 2014 and 2021.
Two of many notable games for Spooner came in the Winter Olympics. In the semi-final game against Switzerland in 2014, Spooner scored two of Canada’s three goals in a tightly contested 3-1 win in the semi-final round. Canada would then go to the final and beat the U.S. with a scoreline of 3-2 in overtime.
In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Spooner had three goals and 11 assists, as Canada would reclaim Gold with a 3-2 win over the U.S.
This is how Spooner felt after winning her first Gold Medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics (Source: National Post YouTube Account):
Spooner will have a lot more to give, also. She will look to not only make the PWHL playoffs but also try to win the 2025 Walter Cup.
READ MORE: Sarah Nurse: Toronto Sceptres’ Star Player
Games Coming Up for the Toronto Sceptres
The Sceptres have only three games left in the PWHL season. Their last road game will be against the Boston Fleet at the Tsongas Center, which will be shown in the U.S. on NESN and be televised nationally on CBC. That game will start at 2:00pm EDT on April 26.
Then, on April 29 at 7:00pm EDT, they will face the New York Sirens at Coca-Cola Coliseum, which will be shown live in the U.S. on MSG and streamed live on Prime in Canada.
Lastly, the Toronto Sceptres will finish their season against their Ontario rivals, the Ottawa Charge, at the Coca-Cola Coliseum at 12:00pm EDT. That game will be televised nationally in Canada on TSN.
Photo Credit: Toronto Sceptres X Account of Natalie Spooner Scoring a Goal, on March 23, 2025.
