Toronto Sceptres

Franchise history

The Toronto franchise was officially announced on August 29, 2023, as one of the six charter members of the new Professional Women's Hockey League. This move ensured the continuation of top-level women's hockey in Toronto following the dissolution of the Premier Hockey Federation and its Toronto Six team earlier that summer. The league named Gina Kingsbury, a former Hockey Canada executive and general manager of the national women's team, as the club's first general manager on September 1. Two weeks later, Troy Ryan, head coach of the Canadian national team, was appointed as the inaugural head coach. The team's first three players, all national team members, were signed to three-year contracts on September 5, 2023. They were forward Sarah Nurse, defender Renata Fast, and forward Blayre Turnbull, who was later named the team's first captain. The team selected 15 players in the inaugural PWHL draft on September 18, using its first pick, second overall, to select veteran defender Jocelyne Larocque.

The team's inaugural season began on January 1, 2024, with a 4-0 loss to PWHL New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Toronto secured its first franchise win four days later, defeating New York 3-2, with Natalie Spooner scoring the first goal in team history. The season was marked by significant attendance milestones. On February 16, 2024, the team hosted PWHL Montreal at Scotiabank Arena in a game dubbed "The Battle on Bay Street," setting a new league and women's hockey attendance record with 19,285 fans. That record was broken two months later on April 20 when 21,105 fans attended a game between the same two teams at Montreal's Bell Centre. Toronto clinched first place in the overall standings on May 1, 2024, becoming the first team to secure a playoff berth. The team relocated its playoff games to Coca-Cola Coliseum and won its first two postseason games against PWHL Minnesota before losing three consecutive games to be eliminated from the playoffs.

Following the 2024 season, head coach Troy Ryan departed in May 2025 to become the general manager and head coach of the expansion PWHL San Jose. On June 10, 2025, the team announced Pascal Rhéaume, younger brother of PWHL Detroit general manager Manon Rhéaume, as its new head coach. The team did not qualify for the playoffs in the 2025 or 2026 seasons. In preparation for the 2026-27 season, the PWHL expanded to 12 teams and introduced an Eastern Conference, where the Sceptres were placed alongside the Boston Fleet, PWHL Hamilton, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, and Ottawa Charge.

Team identity and branding

For the PWHL's inaugural 2024 season, all six charter franchises operated without unique names or logos, with Toronto known simply as PWHL Toronto. The team wore a league-wide jersey template featuring the city's name diagonally across the front but had its own distinct colour scheme of blue and black. In October 2023, the league registered a trademark for the name "Toronto Torch," suggesting it was a candidate for the permanent identity. The official name and branding were unveiled in September 2024, when the team was christened the Toronto Sceptres. The name references Toronto's historical nickname, the "Queen City," with a sceptre being a traditional symbol of royal authority. The team's primary logo features stylized "TS" initials, and yellow was added to the existing blue, black, and white colour palette, creating a blue and gold theme. The team explained that the sceptre was chosen as a symbol of leadership and empowerment, intended to reflect the bold spirit of Toronto.

Venues

The Sceptres have utilized several venues in Toronto since their founding. The team began its inaugural 2024 season playing home games at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the historic site of the former Maple Leaf Gardens. For the 2024 playoffs, the team moved its home games to the larger Coca-Cola Coliseum, located on the Exhibition Place grounds. On September 3, 2024, Coca-Cola Coliseum was officially announced as the team's primary home venue for the 2024-25 season and beyond. The team has also played select marquee games at the much larger Scotiabank Arena, setting attendance records there. For the 2026-27 season, the team's schedule included 12 of its 30 regular season home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The PWHL's popular Takeover Tour, which brings games to non-primary venues, also features on the Sceptres' schedule for that season, with dates marked for January 30, February 2, March 27, and April 10.

Players and personnel

The Toronto Sceptres' hockey operations have been led by General Manager Gina Kingsbury since the franchise's inception in 2023. The head coaching position has seen one change, with Troy Ryan serving from 2023 until 2025 before being succeeded by Pascal Rhéaume, who was hired on June 10, 2025. The team's first and only captain has been Blayre Turnbull, who was named to the role ahead of the inaugural season. The Sceptres' roster has featured many prominent players from the Canadian national team program and top NCAA talent, including Natalie Spooner, Renata Fast, Sarah Nurse, and Kristen Campbell.

Key players from the team's early seasons include Natalie Spooner, the league's first MVP and top scorer in 2024, and Renata Fast, a foundational defender and winner of the 2024-25 Defender of the Year award. Other important figures are captain Blayre Turnbull, an original signing, Sarah Nurse, an Olympic gold medallist, and goaltender Kristen Campbell, the league's top goaltender for the 2024 season. The team's first-ever draft selection was defender Jocelyne Larocque, taken second overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft. The team also selected forward Julia Gosling sixth overall in 2024 and forward Kirsten Simms eighth overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft.

As the team prepared for the 2026-27 season, its roster saw significant turnover due to league expansion and free agency. The goaltending corps was considered a position of strength, featuring Raygan Kirk, Grace Campbell, and Jessie McPherson. On defense, the signed players included veterans Renata Fast, Ella Shelton, Allie Munroe, Jessica Kondas, and Kali Flanagan. The forward group heading into training camp had five players signed: Natalie Spooner, Emma Gentry, Lauren Messier, Claire Dalton, and Emma Woods. The team held the rights to several unsigned draft picks and players who received qualifying offers, including first-round selection Kirsten Simms and forward Sara Hjalmarsson, who was later re-signed to a two-year contract.

Season-by-season record

The following table outlines the Toronto Sceptres' performance since joining the PWHL. The league's playoff format expanded from four to eight teams beginning with the 2026-27 season. The team's most successful campaign was its inaugural 2024 season, where it finished atop the regular season standings but was eliminated in the first playoff round. Natalie Spooner led the league in both goals and points that year, which remains the high point of the franchise's on-ice achievements.

The Toronto Sceptres have not qualified for the postseason since their inaugural 2024 season. The 2026-27 schedule marked the PWHL's expansion to 12 teams. Each team plays 30 regular season games. The Sceptres compete in the new Eastern Conference against the Boston Fleet, PWHL Hamilton, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, and Ottawa Charge. The expanded playoff format for that season features the top four teams from each conference. The first round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series.

Awards and honours

Toronto Sceptres players and staff have received several major PWHL awards, particularly following the standout inaugural 2024 season. Natalie Spooner won the league's first Billie Jean King MVP Award and was also named the PWHL Forward of the Year for 2024. Goaltender Kristen Campbell was awarded the PWHL Goaltender of the Year honour, and head coach Troy Ryan was named Coach of the Year for that same season. In the 2024-25 season, defender Renata Fast was recognized as the PWHL Defender of the Year. The league also names First and Second All-Star Teams each season, with multiple Sceptres earning selections.

Major PWHL Awards won by Sceptres personnel include the Billie Jean King MVP Award for Natalie Spooner in 2024 and the Forward of the Year award for her the same season. Kristen Campbell won Goaltender of the Year in 2024, Renata Fast won Defender of the Year in 2024-25, and Troy Ryan was Coach of the Year in 2024. Allie Munroe also received The Intact Impact Award for the 2024-25 season, recognizing community and charitable work. The team has also had players nominated for other awards, including Emma Maltais for the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award and Troy Ryan for the 2024-25 Coach of the Year Award, though they did not win in those seasons.

Several Toronto Sceptres players have been selected to PWHL All-Star Teams. In 2024, Natalie Spooner and Kristen Campbell were named to the First Team All-Star Team. Sarah Nurse and Renata Fast were named to the Second Team All-Star Team that same year. For the 2024-25 season, Renata Fast was again selected for the First Team All-Star Team. Daryl Watts was named to the Second Team All-Star Team for the 2024-25 season. These honours reflect the high calibre of players who have been part of the Toronto Sceptres organization.

Culture and fan engagement

The Toronto Sceptres have quickly cultivated a passionate and energetic fan base, noted for creating a lively and engaged atmosphere at home games. Fan reviews frequently highlight the high skill level, speed, and physicality of the play, as well as the exciting and welcoming environment inside Coca-Cola Coliseum. The team's games have become notable community events, often featuring organized fan projects and promotions like bobblehead giveaways. The franchise has been instrumental in the PWHL's record-breaking attendance achievements, including the historic sellout crowds at Scotiabank Arena and the Bell Centre.

The team engages with fans through various ticketing options, including season memberships, half packs, flex packs, and single-game tickets, with single-game tickets for the 2026-27 season going on sale in October 2026. The official team newsletter provides updates and detailed ticketing information to subscribers. Merchandise featuring the Sceptres' blue and gold branding, including tees, hats, and hoodies, is sold to support team spirit. Fans in Canada can watch games on national broadcasts via TSN, Sportsnet, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, and Prime Video, ensuring wide accessibility for supporters across the country. The 2026-27 season also featured the debut of the PWHL All-Star game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on March 7, 2027, further highlighting the city's central role in the league.

Questions about Toronto Sceptres

When were the Toronto Sceptres founded?

The Toronto Sceptres franchise was founded on August 29, 2023. This was when it was announced that Toronto would be home to one of the first six franchises of the new Professional Women's Hockey League. The team played its first season in 2024 under the temporary name PWHL Toronto. Its permanent identity as the Sceptres was unveiled in September 2024. The team's first game was on January 1, 2024, a 4-0 loss to PWHL New York at Mattamy Athletic Centre.

Where do the Toronto Sceptres play their home games?

The Toronto Sceptres' primary home arena is the Coca-Cola Coliseum. The team began its inaugural season at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. It moved to Coca-Cola Coliseum for the 2024 playoffs. Coca-Cola Coliseum was officially announced as the primary venue for the 2024-25 season and beyond. The team also plays select marquee games at the larger Scotiabank Arena. The team set a women's hockey attendance record at Scotiabank Arena in 2024 with a crowd of 19,285 fans.

Who is the general manager of the Toronto Sceptres?

The general manager of the Toronto Sceptres is Gina Kingsbury. She has held the position since the franchise's creation on September 1, 2023. Kingsbury was previously the vice president of hockey operations at Hockey Canada. She was also the general manager of the Canadian women's national ice hockey team. She has overseen all player personnel decisions for the Sceptres since the team's founding.

Have the Toronto Sceptres won any championships?

The Toronto Sceptres have not yet won the PWHL's Walter Cup championship. Their best postseason run was in their inaugural 2024 season. They finished first in the regular season that year. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after winning the first two games of the series.

What does the name 'Sceptres' mean and why was it chosen?

The name 'Sceptres' references Toronto's historical nickname, the 'Queen City,' as a sceptre is a ceremonial staff held by a ruling monarch, symbolizing authority. The team stated that the sceptre represents leadership and empowerment, aiming to reflect the bold spirit of Toronto. Other names considered included the Torch, Sentinels, and Tempest before Sceptres was selected in September 2024. The logo features stylized 'TS' initials in the team's colours of blue, black, yellow, and white.

How can I watch Toronto Sceptres games?

Toronto Sceptres games are broadcast in Canada on a combination of national media partners including TSN, Sportsnet, and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. Some games are also streamed exclusively on Prime Video on Tuesdays. Games not carried by a national partner are available on the PWHL's official YouTube channel and website. The 2026-27 schedule featured 13 games on TSN, four on Sportsnet, five on Prime Video, and seven on CBC, including three in primetime.

Sources and further reading

• Toronto Sceptres (Wikipedia)
• Toronto Sceptres | Home (thepwhl.com)
• Toronto Sceptres Announce 2026-27 Regular Season ... (oursportscentral.com)
• Buy Toronto Sceptres Tickets | 2026 to 2027 Events & Schedule (ticketmaster.ca)
• Toronto Sceptres summer roster check-in, PWHL (theixsports.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-27.