There are many women who could fill the six general manager positions in the new professional women's hockey league.
There are many women who could fill the six general manager positions in the new professional women's hockey league.
At the NHL level, women have be earning assistant general manager roles with increased frequency in recent years.
That list includes Chicago's Meghan Hunter, New Jersey's Kate Madigan, Vancouver's Émilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato, Alexandra Mandrycky (Seattle) and Toronto's Hayley Wickenheiser. Other women like Meghan Duggan also have high profile roles with NHL teams.
But the list of candidates extends well beyond the women currently serving in the role, and while there are many men who will also be qualified and apply, here's a look at 15 women who should be considered top candidates for the six vacant roles as general managers in the new professional women's hockey league.
Angela James: It's hard to argue with the job James did as general manager of the PHF's Toronto Six. If anyone is hired as general manager of a Toronto franchise, James should be at the forefront of that conversation. She's experienced, she built an Isobel Cup champion, and she's a legend of women's sport. The Hockey Hall of Famer is a no brainer for the position.
Theresa Feaster: Feaster has explicitly stated she aspires to be a general manager. Currently, she is the director of hockey operations for the NCAA’s Providence College. Feaster is also a graduate of Providence and was a video coach for Team USA’s U-20 team. Could a job as the top boss of a professional women's team be waiting?
Jennifer Botterill: A Harvard University grad, Botterill’s name has appeared recently in discussions for jobs within NHL organizations. She has eight gold medals for Canada at the Olympics and World Championships and works as a Hockey Analyst for Hockey Night in Canada and Sportsnet. Her knowledge of the women's hockey landscape would be a spectacular addition.
Noelle Needham: Hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018 as an amateur scout, Needham is already one of the few women to hold a managerial position, as she is now assistant general manager of the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Steel. The Steel have been building a formidable pipeline for NHL talent, and Needham's experience would be invaluable to the new league. Needham played her NCAA hockey at Minnesota State University.
Karell Emard: The trend of agents becoming general managers is in full swing, and with Emard as the director of operations for women's hockey for Quartexx, she's helped build a clientele of national team members and PHF and PWHPA stars. Emard was a member of the PWHPA's board, and is well connected in Montreal. She'd be a top candidate for a Montreal franchise.
Angela Ruggiero: Ruggiero is a Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame member. She has played men’s and women’s professional hockey, and has Olympic and World Championship gold to her name. Those are her playing credentials. Off the ice, Ruggiero has a master’s in sport management from the University of Minnesota and is a graduate of Harvard Business School. She is the founder and CEO of Sports Innovation Lab, and has served as an International Olympic Committee Board Member. She was also integral in Los Angeles’ successful bid for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Florence Schelling: Although her name might not be as known in North America, aside from being a Hall of Fame worthy goaltender, Schelling was the first woman ever to serve as a GM for a men’s professional hockey team when she held the role for Switzerland’s SC Bern. A graduate of Northeastern University, Schelling also earned a master's in business administration from Linkoping University. The four-time Swiss Olympian's tenure with SC Bern was brief, but she will undoubtedly be considered for future roles, and would be an excellent figure to help open pathways for European players to join the new league.
Anya Packer: The former GM of the PHF’s Metropolitan Riveters, Packer already has GM experience at an elite level. A former Boston University and NWHL player, Packer stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Premier Hockey Federation Players' Association. Also, Packer has become a champion of inclusivity and mental health awareness in sport. She's remained well connected to the PHF and the women's hockey sphere.
Karilyn Pilch: The former General Manager of the PHF’s Boston Pride, Pilch built talented rosters leading Boston to a pair of Isobel Cups. Pilch, who holds a business degree from Boston University, also became the University’s director of hockey operations prior to joining the Pride. Pilch left the Pride to join the Chicago Blackhawks player personnel department and serve as a scout. She has the experience and knowledge, and would fit in either a Boston or Chicago market.
Meghan Chayka: The founder of Stathletes, Chayka has become a powerful voice, and mind, in the hockey analytics business. While a GM like Toronto’s Kyle Dubas has a strong understanding of data and analytics, Chayka is a master. She holds a degree in finance from Brock University, a masters in economics from McMaster University, and was a Data Scientist in Residence at the University of Toronto. Her technology and data have been used by a variety of NHL and international groups, and she's a notable figure in the hockey world.
Hayley Moore: Holding a degree from Brown University, where she starred as a player, Moore is currently the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the American Hockey League (AHL). Moore was the General Manager of the Premier Hockey Federation’s (PHF) Boston Pride in their inaugural season, and later served as the PHF’s (then NWHL) Deputy Commissioner, and team president for the Pride. Moore also has coaching experience, winning an Ivy League title as an assistant with Harvard.
Danielle Goyette: As the director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Goyette’s on- and off-ice resume is impressive. On the coaching side, Goyette spent more than a decade behind the bench as head coach for the University of Calgary Dinos, being named Canada West Conference Coach of the Year in 2019-2020. As a player, Goyette won eight World Championship golds, and two Olympic gold medals with Canada, earning induction into both the Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame.
Alexis Moed - General manager the past two seasons of the Connecticut Whale, Moed was instrumental in giving many on the Whale six figure salaries helping to elevate the status of professional women's hockey in North America. A graduate of Boston College where she played NCAA hockey, Moed is also the president of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program.
Danièle Sauvageau - The general manager last season for Team Harvey's in the PWHPA and long time general manager of the University of Montreal's women's team, Sauvageau is a bit of a polarizing individual for her role in encouraging players toward the PWHPA, but she's definitely experienced. Former gold medal winning coach for Canada's national team, Sauvageau has business ties to Montreal, making that the primary location she'd be a fit with.
Rebecca Michael - Prior to this season, when Michael served as general manager for the PWHPA's Team Sonnet, Michael had years of experience in the CWHL with the Toronto Aeros, and then at the league level as director of hockey operations. Any ties to the old CWHL may create animosity among players already struggling to find cohesion, but Michael remains a candidate.