2025-26 PWHL Season Preview: Toronto Sceptres

What happened last season?

The Toronto Sceptres finished the 2024-25 PWHL season in second place, with a 15-9-6 record and 48 points. Their 73 goals-for were fourth-most in the league, while their 73 goals-against were second-fewest. They had the league's best power play (25.8%) and third-best penalty kill (82.1%).

The Sceptres lost to the eventual champs, the Minnesota Frost, in the semifinals. After winning the first game of the series, Toronnto lost the next three to end their season.

Location/coaches/front office changes

Upfront, things have remained pretty steady for the Sceptres. They continue to be led by general manager Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan. He's joined by assistant coaches Rachel Flanagan, Jim Midgley and Stefanie Thomson. (Thomson served as a video coach last season.)

The Sceptres will once again play at Coca Cola Coliseum, where they've accrued 18 regulation wins, 3 overtime wins, 3 overtime losses and 8 losses over the last two seasons (regular + playoffs combined).

Current roster

Forwards: Clair DeGeorge, Daryl Watts, Kiara Zanon, Anneke Rankila, Lauren Messier, Jesse Compher, Sara Hjalmarsson, Emma Gentry, Kristin Della Rovere, Maggie Connors, Natalie Spooner, Clara van Wieren, Emma Maltais, Blayre Turnbull, Claire Dalton, Emma Woods

Defense: Jessica Kondas, Kali Flanagan, Hanna Baskin, Allie Munroe, Renata Fast, Savannah Harmon, Ella Shelton, Anna Kjellbin

Goalies: Elaine Chuli, Raygan Kirk, Sarah Coe, Jessie McPherson

As of writing, the Sceptres have not made any cuts to their training camp roster.

Key new arrival(s)

Signing Elaine Chuli to be the Sceptres' new starting goaltender may turn out to be a stroke of brilliance for Gina Kingsbury. Honestly, I've felt for a while that Chuli is underrated. She's one of those players who can slip under the radar, but once she gets in her groove, she excels. Chuli will battle with Kirk for the top spot this season, but it'll be a different competition than the one she had last season with Ann-Renée Desbiens on the Victoire. Last season, Chuli went 4-6-0-1 with a 2.42 GAA and .910 save percentage. She previously had a 1.61 GAA and 11-7-0-2 record in the inaugural season.

Acquiring defender Ella Shelton via offseason trade was also a great move for the Sceptres. Shelton was a key piece of the Sirens' defense in the first two seasons and has regularly been recognized for her defensive contributions. As I said in my PWHL draft recap for Toronto earlier this year, there's a lot to like about her: a steady, reliable defender who produces well in her two-way game, who also havs a leadership pedigree.

As Kingsbury said at the time: "I think anyone would want Ella Shelton in their lineup."

Key departure(s)

Kristen Campbell played the lion's share of time in net for the Sceptres last season, appearing in 21 games with a 9-8-3-1 record, 2.25 GAA and .910 save percentage. Campbell, who was the PWHL goaltender of the year in the league's inaugural season, was traded to Vancouver during the 2025 draft. Carly Jackson also signed with Seattle in the summer, so Raygan Kirk is the lone netminder remaining from last season.

The Sceptres also lost two of their top forwards in Hannah Miller and Sarah Nurse, as both signed with the Vancouver Goldeneyes over the offseason. Miller was second on the team in scoring last season, with 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points in 29 games. Nurse registered 14 points (6-8) in 21 games. Both players were also big on faceoffs for Toronto last season.

Three predictions

1. Natalie Spooner records a 30-point season. She's back from injury and ready to rock. Last season, she had five points in 14 games towards the end of the season, but don't forget what an offensive firepower she was in the inaugural season, with 27 points in 24 games. Will she become the first player in PWHL history to hit 30 points in a season? I say: yes.
2. Elaine Chuli will (once again) see success in Toronto. I think we'll see Chuli return to her inaugural season form and really take hold of the starter's spot in Toronto. (Sorry to all the Raygan Kirk fans out there!) She previously played with the CWHL's Toronto Furies and won the Isobel Cup with the PHF's Toronto Six, along with playing in the GTA West for the PWHPA. What sort of boost will returning home (she's from ~77 miles away) provide?
3. The Sceptres will need to find improvements on the power play. Toronto had the league's best power play last season, but a lot's changed since then. They scored 24 power-play goals last season, but the players responsible for nearly half of those goals are now gone. (Hannah Miller & Julia Gosling each scored four, while Sarah Nurse contributed three.) In a league where special teams are so important, can the Sceptres find pieces to fill these holes on the advantage?

The Toronto Sceptres open the season on the road, facing the two-time defending Walter Cup champions in Minnesota. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 pm CT on Friday, November 21 at Grand Casino Arena. Check out the full schedule here.