The Boston Fleet officially have a new head coach naming Kris Sparre as their next bench boss. Boston began their search for a new head coach after Courtney Kessel, the team's top coach for their first two seasons accepted the role as head coach for Princeton University's women's hockey team [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/former-fleet-head-coach-courtney-kessel-officially-named-new-bench-boss-for-princeton]. Sparre spent the past three seasons coaching in the American Hockey League with the San Diego Gulls where he served as an assistant coach. The Gulls announced in April that Sparre would not be returning. Sparre also spent four seasons coaching in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs and Flint Firebirds , as well as two seasons in Austria with EC Salzberg. “I’m so excited to welcome Kris Sparre to the Boston Fleet as our new head coach,” said Boston Fleet General Manager Danielle Marmer in a news release. “What makes Kris such a strong fit is his experience in the AHL, where coaches are constantly balancing the need to win now with the responsibility of developing players — a challenge that mirrors what we face in the PWHL. Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment. He brings clarity, structure, and a deep commitment to helping players succeed. Just as importantly, he’s known as a relationship-driven coach and an elite communicator — someone who builds trust, connects with players, and brings energy and purpose to the rink every day. We’re thrilled to have him leading our team.” As a player, Sparre competed in the OHL, ECHL, and DEL. “I’m honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of the Boston Fleet,” said Sparre. “This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons. Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.” Boston missed the playoffs this season after advancing to the Walter Cup finals in the PWHL's inaugural season. Last year Boston finished with a 9-6-5-10 record, tying with Ottawa and Minnesota with 44 points, but. missing the postseason based on tiebreakers. This is Sparre's first foray into women's hockey.
