PWHL Hamilton hire Kris Sparre as head coach
The coaching carousel in the PWHL continues as the league expands by another four teams, with Kris Sparre now behind the bench for PWHL Hamilton after leaving his role with the Boston Fleet.
Sparre becomes the second 2025-26 PWHL coach to leave a role with a team for an expansion team, after Troy Ryan left the Toronto Sceptres to become the head coach and general manager of PWHL San Jose ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Hired by newly named Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan, Sparre is the first hockey hire outside the front office and brings significant experience, including being a current nominee for the 2026 PWHL Coach of the Year award for his leadership of the Fleet.
Last season, Sparre guided the team to a 62-point campaign, an 18-point improvement from the previous year, before falling to the Ottawa Charge in the Walter Cup semifinals. The Hamilton job marks his return to Canada, after the Mississauga native previously coached in the Ontario Hockey League, alongside his other jobs in Austria and the AHL.
“I’m thrilled to have Kris as the first Head Coach in PWHL Hamilton history, bringing a combination of hockey knowledge, leadership, and player development expertise that make him an ideal fit,” Duggan said in a release.
“I wanted someone who aligns with my core values and can establish a culture and standard that players will want to be a part of, as we forge the foundation and shape the identity of PWHL Hamilton. I believe Kris is the right person to help lead this, with a strong understanding of what it takes to build an environment where players can thrive individually while competing as a team.”
Added Sparre, who leaves Boston looking for a new bench boss: “I’ll always be thankful for my time in Boston and the relationships built along the way. I’m incredibly grateful to Danielle Marmer for believing in me and giving me my first opportunity as a head coach with the Fleet, and to the staff and players for their commitment and passion that truly made it a privilege. The entire organization and fans in Boston showed me just how special it is to be a part of the PWHL community, and I’ll carry those memories and experiences with me as I begin this next chapter.”