Meghan Duggan, a three-time U.S. Olympian, was named general manager of the PWHL’s Hamilton expansion franchise. The Friday announcement comes as the league fills three of its four new expansion-team GM roles, with Hamilton’s preparations now moving toward hir
When the PWHL announced Meghan Duggan as general manager of its Hamilton expansion franchise, it didn’t just add another name to a growing league—it delivered a high-profile decision right at the moment the franchise needs structure.
Duggan is a three-time U.S. Olympian and is leaving her player developmental role with the NHL New Jersey Devils to take over the new job in Hamilton. Ont. The hiring, announced on Friday, fills three of the league’s four expansion team GM positions. The PWHL was expected to complete the rest of its process later in the day by announcing the general manager for its new team in San Jose. Calif.
The 38-year-old brings recognizable NHL-adjacent experience to a league that is still finding its footing. She had already been working with the PWHL as a special consultant for the hockey operations department. For the past five years. Duggan has been with the Devils. including the last four as the team’s director of player development.
For a Hamilton franchise that starts without the luxury of history, her responsibilities begin immediately. Duggan’s first tasks include hiring a coaching staff while preparing to build a roster through an expansion signing process scheduled to begin in two weeks. After that, the timeline turns to league-wide selection: the PWHL draft on June 17.
The stakes for the league are just as clear as the workload ahead. The four new franchises grow the PWHL to 12 teams for next season, doubling the league’s size since it launched in 2024. The expansion wave also includes new teams in Detroit and Las Vegas.
Duggan’s hockey résumé crosses international lines in a way that feels built for this moment. From Danvers. Massachusetts. she won Olympic silver medals in 2010 and ’14. then won gold in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. serving as team captain. Her world championship record is equally decorated, with seven gold medals and one silver across eight appearances.
Even her personal ties point toward the Canada reach of the PWHL’s next phase. Despite her U.S. roots, Duggan has Canadian connections through marriage—she’s married to former Team Canada rival Gillian Apps, who is from the Toronto area.
Her path to stardom also runs through college hockey. Duggan played at Wisconsin, where she won the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as women’s college hockey’s MVP after her senior season with the Badgers.
As Duggan steps into Hamilton’s front office. the PWHL’s expansion machine is now in full motion: coaching hires come first. roster building starts with signings in two weeks. and the draft on June 17 sits as the next major milestone for a league pushing to grow faster than any single season can comfortably absorb.
Meghan Duggan PWHL Hamilton expansion general manager New Jersey Devils Gillian Apps PWHL draft June 17 women’s hockey Olympic silver 2010 2014 Olympic gold 2018 Pyeongchang Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
So they just… hired her and that’s it? Hope she knows what she’s doing.
Meghan Duggan to GM sounds kinda big but isn’t she an NHL player or something? Like I thought GM is front office not like coaching.
Wait I’m confused, is Hamilton joining PWHL because of the NHL Devils connection? It says she leaves her player developmental role with the Devils but then she’s doing coaching staff stuff? Seems like a lot at once.
Expansion league doubling already?? That seems fast like they’re just grabbing names. If the draft is June 17 and roster signings are in two weeks, then they’re basically rushing everything. Also San Jose is supposed to pick a GM later same day, so watch it all change again lol.