The Seattle Torrent announced the departure of Steve O’Rourke on Tuesday, bringing to an end a short but eventful stint that began with his appointment as the franchise’s first head coach in June 2025. O’Rourke arrived with a solid résumé of over 15 years in men’s and junior hockey, but he was a relative newcomer to the women’s game and to the Premier Hockey Federation’s newest expansion team.
The Torrent finished the season with eight wins and 16 losses, placing them at the bottom of the Professional Women’s Hockey League standings. A cascade of injuries to key contributors such as Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka limited the team’s chemistry, while several players, including Jessie Eldridge, failed to meet expectations and were moved mid‑season.
A rocky inaugural campaign
The team’s struggles were not solely on‑ice. The Torrent also navigated a roster that included high‑profile names like Alex Carpenter and Danielle Serdachny, yet inconsistent performances and a lack of depth proved costly. Mid‑season trades, notably the departure of Jessie Eldridge, highlighted the front office’s attempts to reshape a squad that was still finding its identity.
With O’Rourke’s exit, the organization now faces its second head‑coach search in as many years. The front office has not disclosed a timeline for a replacement, but the move underscores the pressure to deliver a competitive product in a league that is expanding rapidly and attracting increasing media attention.
The Torrent’s brief history is already intertwined with that of the Vancouver Goldeneyes, another expansion franchise that entered the league simultaneously. Both teams share a geographic rivalry that promises to add further drama to the upcoming season, as the league seeks to solidify its footprint across North America and beyond.