Kris Sparre has been named the first head coach in PWHL Hamilton history, departing the Boston Fleet after a breakthrough 62-point season and a semifinal run against Ottawa. The league’s newest franchise lands its coach as Hamilton begins its expansion-era fou
The decision came with familiar momentum behind it: Kris Sparre’s next job is one of the most important swings of the PWHL’s expansion chapter, and it starts with an empty bench that will soon feel like a team’s identity.
Hamilton has named Sparre head coach of its Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise, the league announced Wednesday. He’s stepping in after serving as head coach of the Boston Fleet. where he guided the club to a 62-point season — a record 18-point improvement from 2024-25 — before Boston lost to Ottawa in the semifinals.
For Sparre, the move is also personal. From Mississauga, Ont., he described the opportunity as a step that puts him closer to home and family, while acknowledging how much Boston meant to him professionally and on a human level.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to build a foundation in Hamilton alongside Meghan. and moving closer to home and being near family makes this the right step for me personally and professionally. ” Sparre said in a release sent out by the league. “I’ll always be thankful for my time in Boston and the relationships built along the way.
“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. I look forward to helping lead a new team that Hamilton can be proud of.”
Sparre also enters the job with recognition already attached to his most recent stretch. He was named a finalist for the 2026 PWHL coach of the year award.
Hamilton’s appointment doesn’t come in isolation. It’s the first major move made by Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan, and she framed the signing as more than a hockey hire — it’s about setting direction from the start.
“He’s thrilled” is exactly how it reads through the words, and the task is clear. Duggan said she was “thrilled to have Kris as the first head coach in PWHL Hamilton history. ” citing a mix of hockey knowledge. leadership. and player development expertise as the reason he’s the right fit. She added that she wanted someone who aligns with her core values and can establish a culture and standard that players will want to be part of as Hamilton forges its foundation and shapes its identity.
“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,” Duggan said.
Boston, too, has a defined timeline in this story. Sparre was the Fleet’s second head coach, taking over from Courtney Birchard-Kessel before the 2025-26 season.
Before he ever coached in the PWHL, Sparre built his résumé across several levels of professional and developmental hockey. He previously coached in the Ontario Hockey League, Austria’s top professional league, and the American Hockey League before joining the PWHL.
His playing background mirrors that breadth. Before moving behind the bench, Sparre played in the OHL and professionally for nine seasons as a forward, including stints in the ECHL and Germany’s top professional hockey league.
When Hamilton begins play, it won’t be alone. The league’s announcement places Hamilton among four expansion teams scheduled to play in the 12-team PWHL next season, joining Detroit, Las Vegas and San Jose.
For Sparre. the challenge ahead is straightforward to describe and hard to deliver: turn a new franchise into something players want to join and fans want to follow. He’s leaving a Boston program that moved forward quickly under his leadership. and now he’s tasked with building from the ground up in Hamilton.
Kris Sparre PWHL Hamilton Boston Fleet Meghan Duggan PWHL coaching news women’s hockey Ottawa semifinals 2026 coach of the year finalist