minnesota – CanucksBanter

TORONTO, ON (September 15, 2023) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced the Head Coaches who will lead the league’s six teams on the ice heading into its inaugural season. Behind the bench will be Courtney Kessel (Boston), Charlie Burggraf (Minnesota), Kori Cheverie (Montreal), Howie Draper (New York), Carla MacLeod (Ottawa), and Troy Ryan (Toronto). Coaches have all been appointed to their roles by team General Managers.

“As a league, we are fortunate to embark on our inaugural season with a distinguished group of head coaches who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to player development at all levels of women’s hockey,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations.

“I want to credit our General Managers for their efforts in identifying highly qualified candidates that are well respected and motivated to help our athletes reach their full potential in the PWHL.”
Jayna Hefford Senior VP Hockey Operations

Courtney Kessel

Joins PWHL Boston drawing experience from behind the bench and as an elite defender.
She served as head coach for the CWHL’s Toronto Furies in 2018-19, followed by a four-year stint as assistant coach for Princeton University’s women’s hockey program.
Among her accomplishments, the Etobicoke, ON native helped lead the Tigers to its first ECAC Championship in 2019-20 with a program-record 26 wins.
She was named associate head coach with Boston University’s women’s hockey staff in May 2023, and assistant coach for Canada’s National Women’s Team in July 2023.
Kessel served as assistant coach (2019) and head coach (2023) for Canada’s U18 Team, winning IIHF gold both times, and won three IIHF Women’s World Championship medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver) as a player representing her country.
The stalwart blueliner spent her NCAA tenure at the University of New Hampshire, then competed for the CWHL’s Brampton Thunder, where she was named 2012 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star.

Charlie Burggraf

Will represent his home state behind the bench with PWHL Minnesota and reunites with General Manager Natalie Darwitz.
The Roseau, MN native coached Darwitz in his first of two seasons as an assistant for the University of Minnesota, helping the Gophers capture the 2005 NCAA National Championship.
He served four seasons as head coach of the Bethel University women’s hockey program from 2006-10, highlighted by three MIAC playoff appearances and 2009 Coach of the Year honors.
He spent the next eight seasons leading Bethel’s men’s team through 2018.
As a player, Burggraf spent two professional seasons in Germany after a successful career at the University of North Dakota where he was a two-year captain and led his team to a WCHA Championship and runner-up finish at the 1979 Frozen Four tournament.

Kori Cheverie

Joins PWHL Montreal in her fourth season as part of Canada’s National Women’s Team staff, serving as an assistant coach for gold medal wins at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships, the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and silver at the 2023 World’s.
The native of New Glasgow, NS coached her home province to its first ever women’s hockey medal with silver at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and also made history during her five-year tenure at Toronto Metropolitan University as the first full-time female assistant for a U SPORTS men’s hockey program.
More recently, Cheverie guided the PWHPA’s Team Harvey’s to the 2022-23 Secret Cup as an associate head coach and was voted Coach of the Year by Association Members.
The former Toronto Furies forward played six CWHL seasons, winning the Clarkson Cup in 2014, following five seasons as a member of the Saint Mary’s University Huskies.

Howie Draper

Has been a fixture at the University of Alberta where he has served as head coach of the country’s most successful women’s hockey program for 25 years.
He joins PWHL New York having compiled an incredible 665 overall wins, a record eight U SPORTS National Championships, two silver medals, 14 Canada West titles, and four U SPORTS Coach of the Year awards.
On the international stage, Draper was an assistant coach when Canada’s National Women’s Team took silver at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
He was named head coach of Canada’s U18 team in 2018 and captured two gold medals and one silver before leaving the post in 2022.
The Edmonton, AB native was a U of A defender from 1985-90, capturing a national championship in 1986. He was named head coach at his alma mater on Sept. 1, 1997.

Carla MacLeod

Comes to PWHL Ottawa on the heels of coaching Czechia to historic back-to-back bronze medals at the 2022 and 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championships – the country’s first medals as part of the tournament’s top division. The success earned her a three-year extension with the national team that will take her through the 2026 Olympics.
The Calgary, AB native spent the last two seasons as head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey team, and prior to that, was an assistant coach with Team Japan from 2012-14 and led the U18 Female Prep Team at Edge Hockey beginning in 2014.
MacLeod is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2006, 2010) with Canada and won four IIHF Women’s World Championship medals (1 Gold, 3 Silver), earning MVP in 2009.
She competed at the club level with the Calgary Oval X-Treme, both as an independent team and as part of the WWHL, winning the league championship in 2007 and 2008.
In 2020, she was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, recognizing her standout NCAA career with the Badgers.

Troy Ryan

Brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to PWHL Toronto, most notably as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team – a position he’s held since 2020 and is signed for through the 2026 Winter Olympics.
He led the team to back-to-back IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals in 2021 and 2022, and Olympic gold in 2022. This season, he earned silver at the 2023 Women’s World’s, then joined Canada’s National Men’s Team where he won World Championship gold.
Ryan has also served as assistant coach with the women’s program, earning a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics and 2017 World Championship, as well as bronze at the 2019 World Championship.
The Spryfield, NS native has prior coaching experience with Dalhousie University, Team Nova Scotia, and various stints in the MJAHL and MHL.
He’s amassed four Hockey Nova Scotia and Maritime Coach of the Year recognitions, and two Sport Nova Scotia Coach of the Year awards.
As a player, he competed in the Maritimes in both Jr. A and U SPORTS.

Source: thepwhl.com

TORONTO, ON (September 6, 2023) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced the first three players to sign free agent contracts with the league’s Minnesota franchise are forwards Kendall Coyne Schofield, Kelly Pannek, and defender Lee Stecklein. The trio of U.S. Olympians have all agreed to terms on three-year deals for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 PWHL seasons. Salary terms will not be disclosed, as per the PWHL Players’ Association.

“With the signing of three of the top players in the world, Minnesota cements its foundation as a team built on excellence,” said Natalie Darwitz, General Manager of PWHL Minnesota.

“Kendall, Lee, and Kelly’s world-class hockey skills and leadership qualities embody the level of excellence that the culture of Minnesota will be built on. We are thrilled they are the first three players to join Minnesota as we build a championship team.”
Natalie Darwitz GM PWHL Minnesota

Kendall Coyne Schofield

Joins PWHL Minnesota as one of hockey’s all-time great leaders, both on and off the ice. The speedy forward has served as Team USA’s captain since 2019 and representing her country has compiled three Olympic medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver), nine IIHF Women’s World Championship medals (6 Gold, 3 Silver), and several additional IIHF medals at the senior, U22, and U18 level.
The 31-year-old native of Palos Heights, IL had a prolific NCAA career at Northeastern University where she notably won the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award as a senior and Huskies’ captain in 2016 after being a top-10 finalist in 2013 and 2015.
Coyne Schofield played one season with the PHF’s Minnesota Whitecaps in 2018-19 and won the Isobel Cup.
She became a founder of the PWHPA and played three seasons from 2019-21 and 2022-23 and served as President from 2019-23 leading into the formation of the PWHLPA.

“Signing this contract is a reflection of so many people who have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality,” said Coyne Schofield.

“I’d like to thank Mark and Kimbra Walter and Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss for embracing this endeavor and building a league alongside the vision of the players. This is monumental, and it is only the beginning.”
Kendall Coyne Schofield

“Minnesota is elated to welcome Kendall to the team,” said Darwitz.

“Kendall is one of the premier faces of women’s hockey and was a catalyst for the creation of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Kendall has already distinguished herself as a highly accomplished player and will have a tremendous impact on the team. She is a speedy, energetic, and dynamic two-way forward. We warmly welcome Kendall and her family to Minnesota!”

Kelly Pannek

Hails from Plymouth, MN and joins her home-state PWHL Minnesota team.
She is a two-time Olympic medalist (1 Gold, 1 Silver) and five-time World Championship medalist (3 Gold, 2 Silver) with Team USA, and has experience donning the red, white, and blue sweater at the U18 and U22 level where she helped her team achieve podium finishes.
The 27-year-old played her NCAA career at the University of Minnesota from 2014-17 and returned for a senior season in 2018-19 following the 2018 Winter Olympics. Along with back-to-back National Championships (2015, 2016), Pannek led the nation in scoring and was a First-Team All-American and a Patty Kazmaier Award top-10 finalist in 2016-17.
She joined the PWHPA upon graduation and played the 2019-21 seasons and the 2022-23 campaign after the 2022 Olympic break.

“I could not be more excited to be a part of this new era of women’s professional hockey in Minnesota,” said Pannek. “I have always taken great pride in representing the State of Hockey throughout every stage of my career, and to do it now as a pro is a dream come true. I can’t wait to get to work as a part of this organization to hopefully bring home more trophies to Minnesota!”
Kelly Pannek

Lee Stecklein

She is no stranger to the State of Hockey as a Roseville, MN native who played with Pannek at the University of Minnesota and with Coyne Schofield on the Minnesota Whitecaps over the course of her career.
A fixture on the Team USA blue line since joining the U18 program in 2010, the 29-year-old is a three-time Olympic medalist (1 Gold, 2 Silver) and eight-time World Championship medalist (6 Gold, 2 Silver), and has collected hardware in several other international tournaments.
Stecklein’s collegiate career featured three National Championships and two seasons as Golden Gophers captain as a junior and a senior.
As a member of the PHF’s expansion Whitecaps, she famously scored the overtime goal to secure an Isobel Cup title.
Stecklein then played in the PWHPA from 2019-21 and, upon her return from the 2022 Olympic break, won the Top Defender award in the 2022-23 season.

“I am honored to be part of the first wave of players to sign officially with the PWHL, and I am thrilled by the opportunity to continue my career in Minnesota,” said Stecklein. “Thank you to the women who stood united over these years and those who worked daily to make this league a reality!”
Lee Stecklein

“Minnesota extends a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Lee,” said Darwitz. “Lee is a two-way, highly respected defender whose experience and skill set will be a great addition to the team. Lee’s positive influence extends from the locker room to throughout the Minnesota hockey community. We are fortunate to sign a player of Lee’s caliber to our team.”

The PWHL player selection process officially opened on September 1 with an initial free agency period that continues through Sept. 10. Teams are permitted to sign three players to Standard Player Agreements during this time. The 2023 PWHL Draft is scheduled for Sept. 18 where Minnesota holds the first overall pick.

Source: thepwhl.com