A New Era for Canada’s Women’s Program
Hockey Canada announced that it will soon begin the search for a new general manager and head coach of the national women’s team, a move triggered by the expiring contracts of Gina Kingsbury and Troy Ryan.
The timing coincides with a period of rapid growth for the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which has swelled to twelve franchises and reshaped the competitive calendar, including a shift of the world championship to November to avoid clashing with the PWHL season.
Kingsbury, who also serves as general manager of the league’s Toronto Sceptres, and Ryan, recently hired as both coach and GM of the San Jose expansion club, argue that a hybrid model — drawing on both Hockey Canada staff and National Hockey League practices — could provide the structural continuity needed for sustained success.
Their perspective reflects a broader shift in the talent market, where former players and agents such as Meghan Duggan, Manon Rheaume and Dominique DiDia have taken on GM roles across the league, illustrating how the PWHL’s expansion is creating new pathways for leadership.
Katherine Henderson, chief executive of Hockey Canada, has publicly acknowledged the changing dynamics, noting that the 2026 Olympics will be the first Games staged under the PWHL era and that the women’s program must adapt to a schedule that no longer allows for the five‑to‑six‑month training blocks of previous cycles.