According to sources, there's more than on-ice changes coming in the PWHL this offseason. The Boston Fleet will be in the market for a new head coach as sources confirm Courtney Kessel is stepping down from her position.

The reason for Kessel's departure came with another PWHL hiring. When Cara Gardner Morey was hired as the new general manager for PWHL Vancouver, it created a vacancy in Gardner Morey's former role as head coach for Princeton. Reportedly, Kessel is set to take over as head coach for Princeton's women's hockey team where she spent four seasons as an assistant coach between 2019 and 2023.

Kessel was the inaugural coach for the Boston Fleet leading them to game five of the PWHL's Walter Cup finals in their inaugural season. In year two however, Boston missed the playoffs.

In her two seasons behind Boston's bench, Kessel led the team to a 17-10-8-19.

Kessel has also served as head coach for the CWHL's Toronto Furies, and coached with Hockey Canada at the U-18 and senior national level.

As a player the 35-year-old played at the University of New Hampshire before spending five seasons in the CWHL with the Brampton Thunder. She also represented Canada at three World Championships winning a gold and two silver medals. 

It's believed current Boston Fleet skills coach Courtney Kennedy is the frontrunner to take over Kessel's vacancy at head coach of the Fleet.

Boston joins PWHL Seattle and PWHL Vancouver as teams looking to fill their top coaching spot this offseason.