Max Miller
On Friday, PWHL San Jose announced that it has hired Troy Ryan as the franchise’s first General Manager and head coach.
Unlike the NHL, the Professional Women’s Hockey League has single-entity ownership and all staffing, so the league makes all the business decisions for its teams. The San Jose Sharks will share the SAP Center with PWHL San Jose, but they have no decision-making power regarding this hire.
“Troy is a consummate professional and culture driver who has excelled in leadership roles both in the PWHL and with Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team on the international stage,” Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, said in the press release. “Troy has a keen understanding of what it takes to build and lead a high-performing team, and his diverse set of experiences and competitive spirit make him a strong fit to hold the dual role of General Manager and Coach in San Jose.”
Ryan, 54, has spent the past three seasons behind the bench of the Toronto Sceptres. In the league’s inaugural season in 2024, Ryan was named the PWHL coach of the year.
Ryan was also the head coach for Team Canada during the Women’s Olympic Hockey Tournament. Canada lost to Team USA 2-1 in the Gold Medal Game at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games. Ryan earned Olympic gold with Canada in 2022. The new PWHL San Jose leader has spent nine seasons as Team Canada’s coach.
“I’m honored and incredibly excited to help build this organization in San Jose,” Ryan said. “Expansion creates a rare opportunity to shape everything with intention from the standards and culture to the people and connection to the community. We want to build a team that plays with purpose, represents The Bay Area with pride, and helps to continue to grow women’s hockey on the West Coast. We know there is a lot of work ahead, and that is exactly what makes this opportunity so special.”
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