Gina Kingsbury says she would have loved to play in a professional womenB次元官网网址檚 league. While she didnB次元官网网址檛 have that opportunity during her storied playing career, she is looking forward to making sure that others do.
Kingsbury was one of six general managers named Friday by the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League for its inaugural season, which begins play in January. Kingsbury will take over the front office of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 team, with Daniele Sauvageau assuming the role in Montreal and Michael Hirshfeld leading Ottawa.
Kingsbury said leaving a high-level position at Hockey Canada, where she said she was B次元官网网址渧ery happy,B次元官网网址� shows her commitment to building the womenB次元官网网址檚 game at the professional level.
B次元官网网址淢y gut was telling me I could probably have a greater impact here than I could even have at Hockey Canada,B次元官网网址� Kingsbury said in a video conference. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always had the belief that itB次元官网网址檚 not the role that you play but the impact you can have, so I reminded myself of that when I was leaving a vice president position for this job.B次元官网网址�
Former U.S. team captain Natalie Darwitz (Minnesota), Danielle Marmer (Boston) and Pascal Daoust (New York) were also named general managers by the new league.
B次元官网网址淲e were looking for people who brought great hockey knowledge to the table,B次元官网网址� PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said. B次元官网网址淧eople that brought a collaborative approach, that brought a real emphasis on culture and leadership that they could help build out their rosters in their own markets.B次元官网网址�
They were on the job immediately with the start of free agency and the upcoming draft in Toronto later this month.
Kingsbury was vice president of hockey operations at Hockey Canada and had been GM of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 team since 2018. She helped the womenB次元官网网址檚 team to back-to-back womenB次元官网网址檚 world hockey titles in 2021 and 2022, as well as Olympic gold last year in Beijing.
As a player, Kingsbury helped Canada win gold medals at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. The centre was also part of three champion teams and three silver medallists at the womenB次元官网网址檚 world championship.
B次元官网网址淕inaB次元官网网址檚 contributions to Hockey Canada have helped create lifelong memories for millions of Canadian hockey fans and we join them in congratulating her on todayB次元官网网址檚 announcement,B次元官网网址� Katherine Henderson, incoming president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, said in a release. B次元官网网址淲e are excited to work with Gina and the PWHL to support the upward trajectory of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey and ensure it continues to grow and inspire the next generation of participants and fans.B次元官网网址�
Kingsbury acknowledged that there will be challenges growing a team in Toronto, where the entertainment dollar is already stretched pretty thin.
B次元官网网址淏ut when you look at the demographics of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey, Toronto is a hotbed,B次元官网网址� Kingsbury said. B次元官网网址淪o many young girls play hockey in Toronto. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what gets me really excited, to be in a city that has a long history of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey and has a tremendous amount of growth possibilities.B次元官网网址�
Sauvageau also has deep connections to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national womenB次元官网网址檚 program. She coached Canada to its first womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey Olympic gold in 2002 and established a womenB次元官网网址檚 high-performance hockey centre in Quebec in 2019.
Having a high-level professional team in Montreal has been a longtime passion for Sauvageau, who held the GM role for the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey PlayersB次元官网网址� AssociationB次元官网网址檚 Montreal region from 2020-23 and was head coach from 2020-22.
B次元官网网址淭his position is a pinnacle,B次元官网网址� Sauvageau said. B次元官网网址淕rowing the game over the last few years, IB次元官网网址檇 rather not say how many, it is a pinnacle to now have a professional league and obviously a professional team here in Montreal.B次元官网网址�
Hirshfeld served as the executive director of the NHL CoachesB次元官网网址� Association for the past seven years.
He began his career working in Toronto as a corporate lawyer and spent 14 years in the investment business before joining the hockey world.
B次元官网网址淚 think I bring a unique skillset, a different perspective,B次元官网网址� Hirshfeld said. B次元官网网址淚 think that could be really valuable to a new league thatB次元官网网址檚 starting up.B次元官网网址�
Hirschfeld, who says heB次元官网网址檚 not afraid to seek out the advice of others for help, says he has already talked to people with a wealth of hockey experience in the Ottawa market, including current Senators coach DJ Smith, former 67B次元官网网址檚 and current Arizona Coyotes coach Andr茅 Tourigny and former Senators coach and Toronto assistant Guy Boucher.
The PWHL also released its order for its Sept. 18 draft. Minnesota will have the first overall pick, followed by Toronto, Boston, New York, Ottawa and Montreal. The order will be revered for even-numbered rounds, and there will be 15 rounds in all.
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