If the PWHL plans to expand, they'll need to hire for every position...including new head coaches. Here's a look at some candidates the league may consider.
PWHL Takeover Tour Expansion
If the PWHL expands in time for next season, there will be a variety of new roles created. First and foremost, teams will need a general manager, and a new head coach.
There are an incredible number of qualified coaches already working in the women's hockey world who could be recruited. Here's a look at some of the top candidates to be recruited as coaches should the league expand ahead of next season.
- Vicky Sunohara - Head Coach, University of Toronto - A two-time Olympic gold medallist and seven-time world champion as a player, Sunohara is one of the all-time greats for Canada. Twice named the U Sports coach of the year, Sunohara is one of the best in the business. She's also been serving as an assistant with Canada's U-18 program in recent seasons. Already hired as a coach consultant for the Toronto Sceptres, Sunohara is the logical top candidate.
- Tara Watchorn - Head Coach, Boston University - She's already served as the head coach of Stonehill College and Boston University. In a different world, the 34-year-old Olympic gold medlist will still be a player in the PWHL, but she could also step in and be one of the longest standing coaches in the league when it's all said and done.
- Josh Sciba - Assistant Coach, New York Sirens - The long time Union College assistant coach is now in his first season as an assistant in the PWHL, and has served as an assistant for USA's senior national team the past three seasons as well. The fact he jumped from an NCAA head coaching gig to the PWHL shows his interest in climbing into the pro ranks. Sciba is a logical candidate for a head coaching role in the league.
- Cassandra Turner - Head Coach, Quinnipiac - Turner has done a fantastic job at Quinnipiac, and if she has interest, should be one of the top candidates for a team. She also has coaching experience with Canada's U-18 national team, and played at just about every level in the NCAA, with Canada's U-22 team, and the NWHL.
- Laura Bellamy - Head Coach, Harvard - Bellamy is two seasons into her head coaching tenure with Harvard. Bellamy stepped into a difficult situation taking over for Katey Stone. She's gained a lot of experience in this transition, and as an associate coach at Minnesota-Duluth for several seasons prior. Played at Harvard.
- Taylor Wasylk - Head Coach, Lindenwood - If not now, keep an eye on Wasylk as a future candidate. Played for USA's senior national team and U-18 national team before turning pro. Long time Division III coach who recently took over at Lindenwood and also coaches with Spain's national team. She has diverse experiences which would help in the PWHL.
- Kelly Nash - Head Coach, Long Island University - Like Wasylk, it's another case of, if not now, when? Nash has assistant coaching experience at Vermont and Princeton before coaching for a season in the PHF. She's now three seasons into an NCAA Division I head coaching job, and her career looks to just be getting started.
- Stefanie McKeough - Assistant Coach, PWHL Boston - Teams won't just look outside the league, they'll look from within, and Stefanie McKeough will be one of the names that games traction in that discussion. Former head coach in the SDHL and U Sports with the University of Ottawa, McKeough has also served as an assistant with the Ottawa Gee Gees, Canada's U-18 women's program, and this year with PWHL Boston. She's gained the experience, next step is seizing the opportunity.
- Haley Irwin - Assistant Coach, PWHL Ottawa - As a player Irwin has Olympic and World Championship gold with Canada, and an NCAA title. Prior to joining PWHL Ottawa she served as an assistant coach with Toronto Metropolitan University where she served under Lisa Haley. In Ottawa she's working with Carla MacLeod.
- Brian Idalski - Head Coach, St. Cloud State - Idalski more than 20-year career of coaching women's hockey has taken him from the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at the D3 level, to the head coach of the University of North Dakota, the head coach for KRS Shenzhen for three seasons in China, where he also coached the Chinese national team at the 2022 Olympics, and finally to St. Cloud State where he is currently the head coach. That kind of experience is hard to come by.
- Molly Engstrom - Head Coach, University of Maine - As a player, Engstrom was one of the best defenders in the world for close to a decade for Team USA, and she has the gold medals and individual accolades to prove it. As a coach, she's about to finish her third season as head coach of the University of Maine. She knows the game as an elite player, and also as a high level coach.
- Rachel Flanagan - Assistant Coach, PWHL Toronto - With 15 years of experience as head coach at the University of Guelph, Flanagan jumped into a new role taking a leave from Guelph to join Toronto. She's got the head coaching experience, has worked with Hockey Canada, and now has PWHL experience. If she's willing to move, she's a top candidate.
- Lisa Haley - Head Coach, Toronto Metropolitan University - With Canada, she has been an assistant for the national women’s team at the World Championship and Olympics, while also serving as head coach for the U-18 team. In University hockey, Haley was the long-time head coach for Saint Mary’s University where she was named CIS coach of the year, and now serves as head coach for Toronto Metropolitan University. She has 25 years of experience as a University head coach. Haley also spent a season as an assistant in the NWHL with the Toronto Six and served as head coach for Hungary’s national women’s team for multiple seasons.
- Lindsay Berman - Assistant Coach, Northeastern University - A former player in the NCAA, then CWHL and NWHL, Berman has been around the game for years as a player, then as a coach. She started in Division III with UMass-Boston, where she eventually assumed the head coaching role. For the last five seasons, Berman has been an assistant at Northeastern, and also coached with USA's U-18 national team.
- Margot Page - Head Coach, Brock University - A three-time World Champion for Canada in the pre-Olympic era, Page started her coaching career in 1998 as the head coach for the NCAA’s Niagara Purple Eagles. She coached with Canada at the Olympics and spent several seasons working with Switzerland’s national program. Page is the head coach for the Brock University Badgers, a role she has held since 2015.
- Chris McKenzie - Head Coach, Connecticut - With more than 20 years of NCAA coaching experience, it could be time for a new challenge. We saw Greg Fargo leave the NCAA this year. If Fargo was willing to go, we could see more NCAA coaches looking at the league.
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