The Boston Fleet, a rising force in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, is gearing up for a high‑profile transition to Agganis Arena, and the organization has announced a sweeping overhaul of its coaching staff.
A veteran at the helm
At the center of the reshuffle is Francois Methot, a veteran of more than a decade in coaching and a 17‑year professional playing career that spanned the DEL, the AHL and an NHL draft selection by the Buffalo Sabres.
Methot, drafted 54th overall in 1996, brings not only a deep well of experience but also a reputation for sculpting elite talent, having guided both men’s and women’s programs toward championship contention.
Joining him are assistant coaches Derek Whitmore and Jordan Lavalle‑Smotherman, each of whom returns with a proven track record of player development and power‑play innovation.
Whitmore, who spent the previous season as the Fleet’s player development coach, adds six years of AHL experience, including three years with the Portland Pirates, while Lavalle‑Smotherman brings NHL‑level playing experience and a fresh perspective on special teams.
Goaltending coach Lenny Mosca, now in his third year with the club, continues to refine the net‑minders’ technique, drawing on stints at Curry College and UMass Dartmouth to hone his approach.
Video coach Shawn Roche, also entering his third season, leverages his background as a New York Rangers video coordinator to provide the team with cutting‑edge analytical tools.
Continuity and ambition
The continuity of personnel — Whitmore, Lavalle‑Smotherman, Mosca and Roche — signals a deliberate effort to blend fresh ideas with institutional knowledge, a strategy the front office believes will accelerate the team’s ascent.
Together, this ensemble reflects a broader ambition: to embed a development‑first culture that can produce the next generation of women’s hockey stars.