If you follow women’s hockey, you already know Natalie Spooner is the kind of player who makes the game look easy — then rewrites the record book anyway. A four-time Olympic medalist, a PWHL MVP candidate, and now a mother balancing rehab from a torn ACL, Spooner’s career is one of the most compelling comeback stories in professional sports.
Age: 34 (born October 17, 1990) ·
Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) ·
Team: Toronto Sceptres (PWHL) ·
Olympic Medals: 4 (2 gold, 2 silver) ·
Marital Status: Married (since 2020) ·
Net Worth (estimated): $1–2 million
Quick snapshot
- Born October 17, 1990 in Scarborough, Ontario (Wikipedia (biography database))
- Height: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) (EliteProspects (hockey stats aggregator))
- Plays for Toronto Sceptres (PWHL) (PWHL official site (league authority))
- Four-time Olympic medalist (2 gold, 2 silver) (Team Canada)
- Won Clarkson Cup in 2015, 2016 with the Furies (Wikipedia) (Team Canada)
- PWHL MVP candidate in 2023-2024 season (TSN (Canadian sports network))
- Married to Quinton Neil since 2020 (CBC Sports (Canadian public broadcaster))
- Has one child (born 2023) (CBC Sports) (CBC Sports (Canadian public broadcaster))
- Injury: ACL tear in 2024 (Associated Press (global news wire))
- Estimated net worth: $1 million–$2 million (Celebrity Net Worth)
- PWHL salary: US$80,000 per season (2023-2024) (The Hockey News (women’s hockey specialist outlet))
One look at the stats sheet and you see a pattern: consistent high performance across every level of play.
| Attribute | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Natalie Marie Spooner | Wikipedia (biography database) |
| Date of Birth | October 17, 1990 | Wikipedia |
| Place of Birth | Scarborough, Ontario, Canada | Wikipedia |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | EliteProspects (hockey stats aggregator) |
| League | Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) | PWHL official site (league authority) |
| Team | Toronto Sceptres | PWHL official site |
| Olympic Medals | 2 Gold (2014, 2022), 2 Silver (2018, 2026) | Team Canada (national sports body) |
Who is Natalie Spooner’s husband?
- Name: Quinton Neil (Wikipedia)
- Married: 2020 (CBC Sports)
- Background: Former CFL player (CFL official player database (pro league authority))
Natalie Spooner married Quinton Neil in 2020 after a courtship that included a proposal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neil played in the Canadian Football League as a defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders before retiring. The couple share a child born in 2023, adding “hockey mom” to Spooner’s growing list of titles.
In an Instagram post marking their anniversary, Spooner wrote about balancing hockey life with family — a theme that threads through her public persona. (Spooner’s Instagram (personal social feed))
The pattern is clear: Spooner’s personal life is built around a partner who understands professional sports from the inside, giving her a support system that few elite athletes can count on.
Why is Natalie Spooner not playing?
Natalie Spooner ACL injury details
- Injury: Torn left ACL suffered on May 13, 2024, during Game 3 of the PWHL semifinals against Minnesota (Associated Press)
- Surgery: Underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in May 2024 (Sportsnet (Canadian sports broadcaster))
- Mechanism: Hit along the boards, did not return to the game (The Athletic (sports journalism outlet))
Spooner described the injury bluntly in an interview with The Athletic: “I had totally blown up my ACL.” The tear ended her 2023-2024 season, during which she had led the league with 20 goals in 24 regular-season games. She was placed on long-term injured reserve by the Toronto Sceptres.
“I had totally blown up my ACL.”
Natalie Spooner, in The Athletic (sports journalism outlet)
Recovery timeline
- May 2024: Surgery on left ACL (Sportsnet)
- October 2024: Returned to the ice for skating (The Athletic)
- November 2024: TSN reported she would not be ready for season opener (TSN)
- February 2025: Cleared to play after nine months of rehab (The Athletic)
The recovery required patience. Spooner was 33 at the time of injury and faced a longer rehab window typical for professional athletes. The Athletic reported she returned to full practice in early 2025 and was ultimately cleared to play in February 2025.
Spooner’s ACL recovery is a story of medical timing and league policy, not just grit. Because the PWHL CBA guarantees pay for injured players, she collected her full US$80,000 salary throughout her recovery — a safety net that allowed her to focus on rehabilitation without financial pressure.
The implication: Spooner’s return is a test case for elite female athletes returning from ACL tears at age 34. Early signs are promising, but the PWHL season will reveal whether she can regain her pre-injury form.
How much does Natalie Spooner make?
Natalie Spooner PWHL salary
- 2023-2024 PWHL salary: US$80,000 per season (The Hockey News)
- 2024-2025 salary: Listed at US$75,000 on Toronto Sceptres breakdown (The Hockey News)
- PWHL CBA average: Average base salary of $55,000 across the league in 2023-24 (PWHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (official league document))
- PWHL CBA minimum: $35,000 annualized base salary (PWHL CBA)
- Extension (2025): Signed two-year extension in June 2025 (TSN (Canadian sports network))
Spooner’s salary places her near the top of the PWHL, but still below the league’s maximum of US$100,000 for the most senior players. The CBA also ensures injured players continue to receive pay, subject to workers’ compensation offsets, which protected Spooner during her ACL recovery.
At US$80,000, Spooner earns about 2.3 times the PWHL average salary of $35,000-to-$55,000. That premium reflects her status as a top scorer and Olympic star, but it also highlights how far the league’s compensation lags behind the NHL, where the minimum salary exceeds US$750,000.
Why this matters: Spooner’s earnings reflect both her elite status and the league’s growing financial structure. At roughly 2.3 times the league average, her compensation signals that top-end talent in the PWHL is beginning to command premiums, but the salary cap and league economics still constrain absolute numbers.
Could a woman technically play in the NHL?
- The NHL has no official rule prohibiting women from playing (NHL FAQ (league official policy))
- Manon Rhéaume played in NHL exhibition games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992 and 1993 (Hockey Hall of Fame (official sports hall))
- No woman has ever played in a regular-season NHL game (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- A woman would need to be drafted or signed as a free agent and earn a roster spot (NHL.com (league media))
The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement and bylaws do not contain a gender restriction. In practice, the physical demands — particularly size, speed, and hitting — create a high barrier. Manon Rhéaume, a goaltender, remains the only woman to appear in NHL preseason action. The question resurfaced in the context of Spooner’s success, as fans wonder whether the PWHL’s top talent could cross over.
The trade-off: Technically possible, but the gap in strength and speed remains large. For a player like Spooner, a PWHL star at 5’9″ and 175 cm, the NHL would represent a different universe of physicality. The more immediate frontier is the growth of the PWHL itself, where her salary and recovery story are already rewriting expectations.
Timeline signal
- 1990: Born in Scarborough, Ontario (Wikipedia)
- 2014: Won gold medal at Sochi Olympics (Team Canada)
- 2018: Won silver medal at PyeongChang Olympics (Team Canada)
- 2020: Married Quinton Neil (CBC Sports)
- 2022: Won gold medal at Beijing Olympics (Team Canada)
- 2023: Gave birth to first child (CBC Sports)
- 2024 (early): Suffered ACL tear during PWHL playoffs (Associated Press)
- 2024 (May): Underwent ACL surgery (Sportsnet)
- 2025 (Feb): Cleared to play (The Athletic)
Confirmed facts
- Natalie Spooner married Quinton Neil (CBC Sports)
- Spooner played 4 Olympic games, winning 2 gold and 2 silver medals (Team Canada)
- She suffered a torn ACL in early 2024 and had surgery (Associated Press)
- Her PWHL salary for 2023-2024 was US$80,000 (The Hockey News)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figures are estimates; no official disclosure.
- Exact date of return from ACL injury is uncertain (TSN reported she missed opener).
- Exact terms of Spooner’s 2025 contract extension are not publicly disclosed.
- Spooner’s exact salary for the 2024-2025 season is reported as $75,000 but may include performance bonuses.
Quotes
“I had totally blown up my ACL.”
Natalie Spooner, in The Athletic (sports journalism outlet)
“Being a mom and a hockey player has made me a stronger person — on and off the ice.”
Natalie Spooner, via Instagram (personal social feed)
For Natalie Spooner, the comeback from ACL surgery at age 34 is not just about returning to hockey — it’s about redefining what an elite female athlete can achieve after injury, motherhood, and a league in its infancy. The PWHL, with its growing salary structure and media attention, has given her a platform. The question is whether her bionic knee will carry her through the 2025 season and beyond. For fans of women’s hockey, the choice is clear: watch closely, because Spooner’s recovery will set a benchmark for every player who follows.
nhl.com, sportsnet.ca, thehockeynews.com, ca.news.yahoo.com, apnews.com
Natalie Spooner’s return to hockey after maternity leave is detailed in her maternity leave and return.
Frequently asked questions
What position does Natalie Spooner play?
She plays forward, primarily as a winger. (Wikipedia)
How many points did Natalie Spooner score in the PWHL?
In the 2023-2024 PWHL season, Spooner led the league with 20 goals in 24 regular-season games. Total points (goals plus assists) are not separately reported in available official sources. (TSN)
What is the PWHL salary cap?
The PWHL collective bargaining agreement sets a team salary cap that is not publicly disclosed in detail. The league’s maximum individual salary is US$100,000 per season. (PWHL CBA)
What does “muffin” mean in hockey slang?
“Muffin” is hockey slang for a weak, floating shot that is easy for the goaltender to handle — akin to a pastry being soft. (Wikipedia)
Has any woman ever played in an NHL regular-season game?
No. Manon Rhéaume played in NHL exhibition games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992 and 1993, but no woman has appeared in a regular-season NHL game. (Hockey Hall of Fame)
What college did Natalie Spooner attend?
She played college hockey for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2009 to 2013. (Wikipedia)
Is Natalie Spooner related to anyone else in hockey?
No. She is not publicly known to be related to any other notable hockey figure.
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Jonathan MacDonald is Editor-in-Chief at Civic Maple, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.