PWHL Boston Hires University of Ottawa Head Coach Stefanie McKeough

PWHL Ottawa has hired assistant coach Stefanie McKeough, who had been serving as the head coach for the University of Ottawa's women's hockey team.

Only three months after being appointed the new head coach of the University of Ottawa's women's hockey program, Stefanie McKeough finds herself in another new role, this time as the assistant coach for PWHL Boston.

Boston named Courtney Kessel head coach earlier this Fall, and now has a second woman behind the bench for the team and league's inaugural season.

"I’m incredibly excited to welcome Stef onto our staff," Boston general manager Danielle Marmer told The Hockey News. "Her extensive coaching background, with stints with Goteborg in the SDHL, as well as her roles as an assistant and head coach at the University of Ottawa, brings a wealth of diverse experience to our organization. Stefanie and Courtney also coached the Canadian u18 team together this past season and won a gold medal, so there’s already proven success when these two are on a bench together."

McKeough, 32, is an alumni of the University of Wisconsin and also played for Canada's U-18 national team. With Wisconsin McKeough earned recognition as the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-2012.

She began her coaching career in 2018 spending three seasons in Sweden with Goteborg before returning to her hometown to serve as an assistant coach with the University of Ottawa, a role she's held until today.

Former Team Canada star Jennifer Wakefield, along with Greg Bowles, will now co-coach Ottawa's women's team.

"We understand this was a difficult decision for Stefanie to make, but we support her taking the opportunity to be a part of something special for women's sports in North America," said Sue Hylland, senior director of recreation and varsity sports at the University of Ottawa stated.

McKeough also won gold as an assistant coach with Canada's U-18 national team in 2023.