Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull announced she is pregnant with her first child, due in December, sidelining her for the start of the 2026-27 PWHL season. The 32-year-old Team Canada star made the announcement on Instagram over the weekend.
Impact on the Sceptres Roster
Turnbull and her husband Ryan Sommer, High Performance Director of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, are expecting their baby in December, coinciding with the first month of the PWHL schedule. General manager Gina Kingsbury expressed full support, stating, “Blayre will continue to be a leading presence for the team off the ice throughout the season. She is determined to return to play once ready, following the birth of her child, and the Sceptres will be there to support her every step of the way.”
Turnbull’s 2025-26 Season Performance
Turnbull is coming off her best offensive season with the Sceptres, finishing second on the team in goals and points with nine goals and eight assists, trailing only Daryl Watts. Her absence compounds significant roster turnover: Toronto will open the season without its top four scorers from last season. Watts moved to Detroit via expansion, as did third-leading scorer Jesse Compher. Fourth-leading scorer Emma Maltais is expected to join the Montreal Victoire. Between expansion, free agency, retirements, and Turnbull's pregnancy, the Sceptres need to replace seven skaters and a goalie from last season’s team.
Return Timeline and Precedent
If Turnbull seeks a swift return, she can look to teammate Natalie Spooner, who returned to on-ice training four weeks after giving birth to her son Rory, played in a PWHPA showcase game four months postpartum, and represented Canada at the IIHF world championships five months after birth. Turnbull’s return date remains uncertain, but the Sceptres are committed to supporting her throughout the process.
