The PWHL named Troy Ryan as the head coach and general manager of the new San Jose expansion team on Friday.
Ryan, 54, has been the head coach of the Toronto Sceptres for the past three seasons and was the inaugural PWHL Coach of the Year in 2024.
The Nova Scotia native also was the head coach of the Canadian women’s national team for six years, leading the squad to a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and three IIHF Women’s World Championship titles in 2021, 2022 and 2024. He stepped down after Canada’s silver medal-winning performance at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
“I’m honored and incredibly excited to help build this organization in San Jose,” Ryan said. “Expansion creates a rare opportunity to shape everything with intention from the standards and culture to the people and connection to the community. We want to build a team that plays with purpose, represents The Bay Area with pride, and helps to continue to grow women’s hockey on the West Coast. We know there is a lot of work ahead, and that is exactly what makes this opportunity so special.”
Ryan becomes the first person to hold the GM-coach dual role in the PWHL.
“Troy is a consummate professional and culture driver who has excelled in leadership roles both in the PWHL and with Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team on the international stage,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations. “Troy has a keen understanding of what it takes to build and lead a high-performing team, and his diverse set of experiences and competitive spirit make him a strong fit to hold the dual role of General Manager and Coach in San Jose.”
San Jose and three other expansion teams — Detroit, Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario — are joining the league as it expands to 12 teams for the 2026-27 season.
–Field Level Media
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