By The Canadian Press

Spooner nets go-ahead goal to lift Sceptres past Charge 3-1 in PWHL action

Dec 4, 2025 | 8:46 PM

TORONTO — Natalie Spooner scored the go-ahead goal in the second period to lift the Toronto Sceptres to a 3-1 win over the Ottawa Charge in Professional Women’s Hockey League action on Thursday.

Daryl Watts, with a goal and an assist, and Blayre Turnbull, with an empty-netter, also scored for Toronto (2-0-0-1). Elaine Chuli made 16 saves.

Fanuza Kadirova scored for Ottawa (1-0-0-3). Gwyneth Philips stopped 34 shots.

Kadirova took a lead pass from Samantha Isbell from Ottawa’s defensive zone and slid it past Chuli just 1:45 into the game.

Watts evened the score when she wired one over Philips’s left shoulder 2:22 into the second period. It was Toronto’s first power-play goal in 10 attempts this season after leading the PWHL with a 25.8-per cent conversion rate last year.

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Spooner scored her first of the season to put the Sceptres ahead with a tip-in off a pass from Watts with 7:01 left in the middle frame.

Takeaways

Sceptres: Toronto enjoyed another one-sided advantage in shots on goal but had trouble with execution as Philips gave the home side troubles. The Sceptres outshot Ottawa 18-4 through the first period, 27-11 through two and 37-17 in total.

Charge: It was head coach Carla MacLeod’s first game back behind the bench for Ottawa following her breast cancer diagnosis last week. Philips made a highlight-reel save in the first period when she stuck her stick out to stop Turnbull from scoring into an open net after a scramble in front.

Key moment

In the middle of battling for position in front of the net with Brooke Hobson, Spooner managed to get the puck over Philips’s left shoulder.

Key stat

Ottawa’s Emily Clark (17) is one of only two players in the PWHL to have recorded 10 or more shots without scoring a goal, alongside New York’s Anne Cherkowski (14). Spooner entered the night among the group but ended her scoreless run at 13 shots.

Up next

Sceptres: Visit the Montreal Victoire on Sunday.

Charge: Head to Vancouver to face the Goldeneyes on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2025.

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press