Kessel Departs PWHL, Joins Princeton as Women’s Coach

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    Princeton University has officially announced on Monday the appointment of Courtney Kessel as the new head coach for their women’s hockey team. This announcement comes after a week of finalizing the terms of the agreement between Kessel and the university.

    Kessel takes on this role after spending two years as the coach for the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Her tenure at Princeton, however, is not new; she previously served as an assistant coach with the Tigers from 2019 to 2023 under the guidance of Cara Gardner Morey. Morey vacated the head coach position in May to take up a role as the general manager for the PWHL’s newly expanded team in Vancouver.

    During her stint with the Boston Fleet, the 35-year-old Kessel accumulated a commendable record of 27 wins, 19 losses, and 8 draws. Her accomplishments included leading the team to the Walter Cup Finals in 2024, where they faced defeat against Minnesota in a thrilling Game 5 showdown.

    Reflecting on her decision, Kessel expressed mixed emotions about leaving Boston. “It is bittersweet to move on from the Boston Fleet and the amazing people building that organization and the PWHL as a whole,” she stated. “This opportunity was the only one that could draw me away from where I was.”

    Hailing from Toronto, Kessel has a rich background in hockey. As a player, she stood out at the University of New Hampshire, emerging as a 2010 finalist for the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which honors the most valuable player in women’s college hockey. She has also represented Canada on the international stage, securing a gold medal at the 2012 World Championships.

    Her coaching career includes experience with Hockey Canada, where she contributed as a senior team assistant in 2024 and led the under-18 team to a gold medal victory in 2023.

    The Boston Fleet, which Kessel leaves behind, are experiencing a transformative offseason. Star player Hilary Knight has departed to join the new Seattle PWHL team. The Fleet are also on the hunt for an assistant general manager following Meghan Turner’s move to Seattle as their new GM.

    Danielle Marmer, the Fleet’s general manager, praised Kessel’s contributions: “Courtney set the tone from Day 1 and elevated our group with her competitiveness, preparation, and care. She’s already established herself as an elite coach early in her career, and I know she’ll continue to raise the bar as the next head coach at Princeton.”