Standing at the podium for the PWHL Awards, the emotion in Kris Sparre's voice speaking about leaving Boston was clear.

Sparre, after all, was standing in front of the best players in the PWHL, including several members of the Boston Fleet, accepting PWHL Coach of the Year honors. But he was doing it as the now former head coach of the Fleet after accepting the head coaching job with PWHL Hamilton.

He did it for his family. Sparre, whose family is based in Burlington, only minutes from TD Coliseum in Hamilton, is now a family of four with a young son, a daughter born during the 2025-26 PWHL season, and his wife Stephanie.

Still, after getting the first head coaching role of his career with the Fleet, and finding personal and team success, made the move difficult.

"I loved my time in Boston. You know, I love the people there," said Sparre.

"Some things are bigger than hockey and getting a chance to go home and be close to my family and just provide them with a little bit more support locally, friends and family nearby that can help out with the kids. I've made some tough decisions in my hockey career as a player, as a pro for 10 years, and I was a coach for 10 years...this was hands down the hardest decision I ever had to make, and it's because of the players."

Sparre's Boston Fleet stars were no less shocked and upset to see their head coach go, but they were also happy for him to be closer to family, and to get to go home.

"He's incredible," said PWHL Rookie of the Year and Olympic gold medalist Haley Winn who played for Spare in Boston this season. "The emotion that was shown (at the awards), I think it was a very emotional time for our team when he announced that he was taking the job in Hamilton. I think that was a very hard decision for him, but at the end of the day, life's bigger than hockey, and we understood that, and for him to be with his wife and his kids was obviously totally understandable."

Winn said even in a single season, Sparre left a lasting and positive impact that she'll carry with her for a long time. Winn wasn't the only player feeling the emotions of losing Sparre as the 2025-26 season wrapped at the PWHL Awards, and turned the corner the following day to see Sparre at the PWHL Draft sitting among PWHL Hamilton staff.

"Us as players were a little bit emotional as well," said PWHL MVP and Goaltender of the Year Aerin Frankel. "It was incredible having Kris this year, and he was great to all of us, and we respect him so much, and I wish him good luck in the next year, obviously not too much, but I do wish the best for him."

Sparre acknowledged the opportunity he was given to join the PWHL after Danielle Marmer plucked him from the AHL where he was serving as an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls. It changed his career path from looking for his first head coaching role, but being a professional hockey coach of the year, and highly sought after bench boss.

As captain Megan Keller said, Sparre helped the Fleet overcome expectations. Few picked the Fleet to perform like they did.

From day one in training camp, he made it very clear the way that we wanted to compete," said Keller. "It was going to be fast paced. You know, he wanted us in on the forechecks, and we were going to be a hard team to play against. 
And so credit him to a lot of our success and laid a great foundation for us."

It was enough that the Fleet's top players all spoke about hoping to again someday cross paths with Sparre as athletes. For the time being however, the next time they cross paths it will be as opponents when the Boston Fleet and PWHL Hamilton drop the puck on the 2026-27 season.