The Canadian women’s hockey team is set for a leadership change as a new general manager and head coach are to be appointed for the upcoming Olympic cycle. Hockey Canada confirmed that GM Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan will not continue in their roles as their contracts are nearing expiration.
Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice president of high performance and hockey operations, expressed gratitude for the significant contributions made by Kingsbury and Ryan to the women’s team. The focus now shifts to finding the best candidate for the general manager position to steer the National Women’s Team towards the 2026-27 season and beyond.
A search committee led by Gillian Apps, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and Hockey Canada board member, will oversee the selection of the new general manager who will subsequently appoint the head coach. The committee also includes former Canadian women’s hockey team members Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Thérèse Brisson.
Hockey Canada President and CEO Katherine Henderson commended Kingsbury and Ryan for their world-class leadership, which led to Olympic gold in 2022 and multiple world championship titles. Despite recent losses to the United States, questions about team strategy, and calls for rejuvenation, the team’s accomplishments under the outgoing leadership are significant.
The next steps will involve the appointment of new leadership, with potential candidates such as Kori Cheverie and Caroline Ouellette being considered for coaching roles. The forthcoming changes mark the beginning of a potential transition phase for the Canadian women’s hockey team, aiming to blend experience with emerging talent for future success.