The newest franchise in the PWHL is making a splash with their first official hire as a team. PWHL San Jose has named Troy Ryan as the club’s first ever General Manager and head coach.
Ryan is a veteran coach in the women’s hockey ranks, having previously coached with the Toronto Sceptres and the Canadian Women’s national team. He was named the inaugural PWHL coach of the year in 2024, and guided Toronto to the league’s best record in 2024.
“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,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. “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.”
With 3x IIHF Women’s World Championship titles under his belt, and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2022, Ryan is about as decorated a coach as they come in the hockey ranks. Prior to joining the PWHL, the 54 year old spent 20 years coaching at the university and junior hockey ranks. His most recent collegiate stint was with the women’s varsity team at Dalhousie University from 2020-23.
“I’m honored and incredibly excited to help build this organization in San Jose,” said Ryan. “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.”
With the 2025-26 season officially wrapped up, the league is set to undergo the largest round of expansion the PWHL has ever undergone. 8 teams competed this past year, but with the additions of Vegas, Detroit, Hamilton, and San Jose, the total number of teams has now grown to 12 for 2026-27.
Ryan will now be tasked with assembling the rest of PWHL San Jose’s hockey operations staff including the rest of his coaching staff, and his scouting and operations department with the club. While the league has yet to confirm all the details of the upcoming expansion draft, the one date that fans of the new west coast team can add to their calendars is June 17th which is the 2026 PWHL Draft date set to take place in Detroit.
Photo: PWHL