GM Gina Kingsbury unsure about future with Canada’s women’s hockey team
The overhaul that many had been hoping for in Hockey Canada might come to fruition.
In an interview with The Canadian Press on Monday, Gina Kingsbury, general manager of the women’s national team, stated that he isn’t quite sure what her future holds with the organization.
“If Hockey Canada feels like there is a role that I can help have an impact in, I would consider it,” Kingsbury said. “But the whole plan/vision would have to make sense.”
The chat comes a little over a week after Canada was ousted by the United States in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the Canadians’ eighth consecutive loss to their southern rivals, dating back to last year’s IIHF Women’s World Championship.
It is the longest skid Canada has had against the U.S. in almost a quarter-century, but faith in the current regime of Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan had been dwindling for months leading into Milan, with the two losses to the Americans in the tournament sparking nationwide questioning of their ability to run the national team.
Kingsbury’s contract with Hockey Canada ends in June, before the 2026 Women’s Worlds, which are set to take place in Denmark in November. The 2010 Olympic gold medalist recognizes that there is a possibility that a change might be made, but she’ll be in full support of whatever Hockey Canada’s brass decides.
“I also understand if the new direction doesn’t include me. I’m open for discussion either way and will be our program’s biggest supporter if I’m not involved.”
Ryan has already faced questioning after the disappointing result, noting that now could be the “right time for change.”
“I’ve had those conversations consistently,” Ryan explained during a press conference last week. “Over the last few years with Hockey Canada on when the right time to transition into either a different role, or just completely transition out of the program.”
Ryan mentioned that he is encouraging a succession plan to find the new bench boss to lead Team Canada into the future.
“The finer details within those decisions still need to be worked out. Succession Planning is always important, I believe, in national team programs, and I can only speak for my part in it, but I would definitely encourage some succession planning.”
Hockey Canada senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, Scott Salmond, told The Canadian Press that he has yet to chat with Ryan and Kingsbury about their futures with the program, but those conversations “will be sooner than later.”
“It’s all really fresh for everyone right now,” Salmond said. “In fairness, I haven’t spoke to Troy or Gina yet about what the future holds. That’s on my plan to do this week before I go back to the Paralympics…I read the things that Troy said as well, but he and I haven’t had that conversation.”
Ryan and Kingsbury are also the head coach and GM of the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres, a team that has the promise to be one of the best in the league, but has certainly underperformed so far in the team’s third season. Salmond isn’t ruling out bringing in people currently working in the PWHL, but is willing to look outside one of the fastest-growing leagues in professional sports.
“Is it the best interest to have a PWHL coach? Those are questions that need to be asked and things that we need to get opinions on from different people. I’m not convinced either way, yet. That’s going to take a little bit of time. Now, there’s more questions than there are answers, which is the right place to be today.”
Salmond noted that international experience is going to be one of the focuses in making a new hire, especially behind the bench.
“My job is to put the best people in place,” Salmond said. “That would start with the general manager if that’s Gina or otherwise, and then work closely with that individual to hire what would be the best coach.”
A couple of names that have popped as potential successors to Ryan were his assistants on the national team. Montreal Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie and assistant coach Caroline Ouellette. Both have experience coaching on the international stage, with Ouellette being regarded as one of the best players of all time, and she is a Hockey Hall of Famer.
Yet, even with those names being potential frontrunners, Salmond says that Hockey Canada is going to be sure to do an honest search before making the final call.
“Caro, Kori, they’ve done a lot for our program. I would say right now they would have a leg up for sure, but we’re committed to a thorough search.”
As for the GM role, the possibilities for that role seem to be wide open.
With Kingsbury and Ryan running the show, Canada won gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, as well as the 2021, 2022 and 2024 WWC.