Kris Sparre has been named the new coach of Boston Fleet in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

He is only the second coach to have been hired in the club's short history. He replaces Courtney Kessel who was hired to coach Princeton's women's hockey in June. Kessel coached the Fleet for the first two years of their existence. They were 27-19-8, and reached the Walker Cup finals during the inaugural season.

Sparre, who is 38 years old, has been an assistant coach for the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim Ducks top affiliate, in the American Hockey League.

Sparre stated in a statement released by the team that he was "honored and thrilled" to be named head coach of Boston Fleet. This is a great opportunity to join a league which has seen remarkable growth in recent years. Boston is one of the most prestigious sports cities in the entire world. I am looking forward to creating a program capable of competing for a championship each season.

Sparre is a native of Ontario and has also coached in the Ontario Hockey League as well as Austria's premier professional league.

Danielle Marmer, Fleet general manager, said that Kris' experience in the AHL is a great fit. Coaches in the AHL are always balancing winning now and developing players - a similar challenge to what we face in PWHL. Kris knows how to create an environment where players can grow and perform. He is committed to helping players achieve success.

"He's also known for being a relationship-driven and elite communicator – someone who builds trust with players and brings energy and motivation to the rink each day. We are thrilled to have him as our new head coach.

Sparre played nine professional seasons, including in the ECHL as well as Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

Schedules for 2025-26 have not been released yet.

Field Level Media

(source: Reuters)