Latest news with #DanielleMarmer
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Boston Fleet announce Kris Sparre as head coach
July 23 - Kris Sparre is the new head coach of the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League. He is the second coach in the club's young history. He replaces Courtney Kessel, who was hired in June to coach the Princeton women's hockey team. In the Fleet's first two seasons, they were 27-19-8 under Kessel, including a run to the league's Walker Cup finals in their debut campaign. For the past three seasons, Sparre, 38, was an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League, the Anaheim Ducks' top affiliate. "I'm honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of the Boston Fleet," Sparre said in a team-released statement. "This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons. Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season." Sparre, an Ontario native, also has coaching experience in the Ontario Hockey League and in Austria's top professional league. "What makes Kris such a strong fit is his experience in the AHL, where coaches are constantly balancing the need to win now with the responsibility of developing players -- a challenge that mirrors what we face in the PWHL," Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said. "Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment. He brings clarity, structure and a deep commitment to helping players succeed. "Just as importantly, he's known as a relationship-driven coach and an elite communicator -- someone who builds trust, connects with players, and brings energy and purpose to the rink every day. We're thrilled to have him leading our team." Sparre played professionally for nine total seasons in the ECHL and Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The schedule has not yet been announced for the 2025-26 season. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boston Fleet name Kris Sparre as second head coach in franchise history
The Boston Fleet have named Kris Sparre the second head coach in franchise history ahead of the 2025-26 PWHL season, the team announced Wednesday. Sparre replaces Courtney Kessel, who recently left to coach the Princeton University women's hockey team. Kessel coached the Fleet to a 27-19-8 record across two seasons as well as a Walter Cup Finals appearance in 2024. 'I'm so excited to welcome Kris Sparre to the Boston Fleet as our new head coach,' Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said in a release. 'What makes Kris such a strong fit is his experience in the AHL, where coaches are constantly balancing the need to win now with the responsibility of developing players — a challenge that mirrors what we face in the PWHL.' Marmer called Sparre a 'relationship-driven coach' and an 'elite communicator.' 'Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment,' Marmer said. 'He brings clarity, structure, and a deep commitment to helping players succeed.' Sparre, 38, most recently spent three years as an assistant coach with the AHL's San Diego Gulls and previously coached in the OHL and with Austria's top professional league. 'I'm honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of the Boston Fleet,' Sparre said in a release. 'This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons. Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.' The Fleet currently have 18 players under contract for the upcoming season. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. NHL, Women's Hockey 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Boston Fleet name Kris Sparre as second head coach in franchise history
The Boston Fleet have named Kris Sparre the second head coach in franchise history ahead of the 2025-26 PWHL season, the team announced Wednesday. Sparre replaces Courtney Kessel, who recently left to coach the Princeton University women's hockey team. Kessel coached the Fleet to a 27-19-8 record across two seasons as well as a Walter Cup Finals appearance in 2024. Advertisement 'I'm so excited to welcome Kris Sparre to the Boston Fleet as our new head coach,' Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said in a release. 'What makes Kris such a strong fit is his experience in the AHL, where coaches are constantly balancing the need to win now with the responsibility of developing players — a challenge that mirrors what we face in the PWHL.' Marmer called Sparre a 'relationship-driven coach' and an 'elite communicator.' 'Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment,' Marmer said. 'He brings clarity, structure, and a deep commitment to helping players succeed.' Welcome to Boston, Kris! ⚓️ Kris Sparre has been named our second head coach in franchise history. 📰: — Boston Fleet (@PWHL_Boston) July 23, 2025 Sparre, 38, most recently spent three years as an assistant coach with the AHL's San Diego Gulls and previously coached in the OHL and with Austria's top professional league. 'I'm honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of the Boston Fleet,' Sparre said in a release. 'This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons. Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.' The Fleet currently have 18 players under contract for the upcoming season.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
PWHL's Boston Fleet sign Kris Sparre as second head coach in franchise history
WELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) — The Boston Fleet have hired Kris Sparre as the second head coach in the PWHL franchise's history. Sparre, a 38-year-old veteran assistant with no experience in the women's game, replaces Courtney Kessel, who had a 27-19-8 record and a Walter Cup Finals appearance before leaving to take over at Princeton. Her departure leaves only two female head coaches among the PWHL's eight teams. 'This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons,' said Sparre, who played junior hockey and in Germany and coached in the OHL, AHL and Austria's top league. 'Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.' A Toronto-area native, Sparre played nine seasons as a forward in the minor leagues and in Germany. He was an assistant coach for Red Bull Salzburg from 2019-21 before spending three seasons with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said Sparre's experience in the AHL, where coaches need to balance winning with player development, will make him a good fit. 'Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment,' she said. 'He's known as a relationship-driven coach and an elite communicator — someone who builds trust, connects with players, and brings energy and purpose to the rink every day.' The Fleet have eight players remaining from the roster that reached finals in the PWHL's inaugural season. But they are looking to replace 36-year-old captain and league MVP finalist Hilary Knight, who was left unprotected in the expansion draft and is moving to Seattle after a season in which she tied for the league lead with 29 points. ___ AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report. ___ AP women's hockey:
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
PWHL's Boston Fleet sign Kris Sparre as second head coach in franchise history
WELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) — The Boston Fleet have hired Kris Sparre as the second head coach in the PWHL franchise's history. Sparre, a 38-year-old veteran assistant with no experience in the women's game, replaces Courtney Kessel, who had a 27-19-8 record and a Walter Cup Finals appearance before leaving to take over at Princeton. Her departure leaves only two female head coaches among the PWHL's eight teams. 'This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons,' said Sparre, who played junior hockey and in Germany and coached in the OHL, AHL and Austria's top league. 'Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.' A Toronto-area native, Sparre played nine seasons as a forward in the minor leagues and in Germany. He was an assistant coach for Red Bull Salzburg from 2019-21 before spending three seasons with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said Sparre's experience in the AHL, where coaches need to balance winning with player development, will make him a good fit. 'Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment,' she said. 'He's known as a relationship-driven coach and an elite communicator — someone who builds trust, connects with players, and brings energy and purpose to the rink every day.' The Fleet have eight players remaining from the roster that reached finals in the PWHL's inaugural season. But they are looking to replace 36-year-old captain and league MVP finalist Hilary Knight, who was left unprotected in the expansion draft and is moving to Seattle after a season in which she tied for the league lead with 29 points. ___ AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report. ___ AP women's hockey:
