Kingsbury, Darwitz among 6 named PWHL general managers
The Professional Women's Hockey League announced its inaugural general managers Friday.
Natalie Darwitz (Minnesota), Pascal Daoust (New York), Gina Kingsbury (Toronto), Michael Hirshfeld (Ottawa), Danielle Marmer (Boston), and Daniele Sauvageau (Montreal) were named the first six GMs in league history.
"Securing highly qualified general managers was a priority to help build strong foundations in each of our original six PWHL markets and delivering professional standards for all players," PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said in a statement.
"The search process identified a lot of impressive candidates from which we've assembled an exceptional group with collective experience across the highest levels of the game, both on and off the ice."
Darwitz, 39, starred at the University of Minnesota from 2002-05. Her 114 points in 2004-05 with the Golden Gophers remain the team's single-season record. The Eagan, Minnesota, native was a member of the U.S. national team from 1998 to 2010 and was the American captain from 2007-10. Darwitz has been an assistant coach with the Golden Gophers' women's team for the past two seasons.
Minnesota landed the first overall pick in Friday's draft lottery, meaning Darwitz will be the first GM to make a selection in PWHL history.
"It's so much fun, this is just so exciting. ... Obviously I'm thrilled to get the No. 1 pick, I think that's going to be really significant. ... I have an idea of who that may be already," Darwitz said.
She added, "I want that to be considered more of a franchise pick, somebody who we can hopefully have around for a really long time."
Daoust was the GM of the QMJHL's Val-d'Or Foreurs from 2016-2023. He was previously an assistant coach with the University of Montreal's women's hockey team, where he helped the club win two national titles.
Fewer players have personal ties to New York than other franchises like Minnesota, Toronto, and Montreal, which Daoust acknowledged will be "an obstacle" when it comes to luring talent to the tri-state area.
"It is a challenge, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for the girls to jump in a new market. ... I expect them to be open or really excited about going anywhere in the six markets. ... We're going to give all the reasons in the world for players to come to New York," he said.
Kingsbury played for the Canadian national team from 2000-2010 and appeared in both the CWHL and WWHL. She was an assistant coach with the CWHL's Calgary Inferno for three seasons before joining Hockey Canada's hockey operations department in 2018, where she managed the women's team. Born in Saskatchewan and raised in Quebec, Kingsbury was promoted to Hockey Canada's vice-president of hockey operations in March. Her stacked resume includes two Olympic gold medals and three World Championship titles as a player. She has an Olympic gold, two Women's World Championships, and a World Championship as an executive.
"On the ice, I believe in fast play, fast decisions, entertaining game, obviously extremely skilled. ... A fast team that is extremely competitive and never gives up and that plays with a lot of pride," Kingsbury said.
The 41-year-old said she's leaving her post at Hockey Canada on good terms and that her gut told her she could have a greater impact in the PWHL.
Hirshfeld has been the executive director of the NHL Coaches' Association since 2016. A former Bay Street corporate lawyer, Hirshfeld was in the running for the Philadelphia Flyers' president role that went to Keith Jones, according to reports in May.
"We describe ourselves as a gritty, dynamic style of hockey. It's going to be skills-based," he said. "There's so much talent in this league. ... It's blowing me away by how many great players are out there."
He said his team will be sharing TD Place Arena with the OHL's Ottawa 67s, and that they are building a brand-new dressing room specifically for the PWHL squad. The venue has a capacity of 6,500.
"I think (Ottawa) is a great sports town. I think that this team will be adopted with open arms," he said. "I'm not concerned about it in the least, I think we're going to put a really exciting product on the ice and we're gonna do the best we can to connect with the community."
Marmer was a scouting assistant for the Boston Bruins last season and also worked in the team's player development department. Prior to joining the Bruins, she was the director of hockey operations for Quinnipiac University's women's hockey team.
The executive said she's looking forward to establish a new franchise in a "proven hockey city" like Beantown.
"I definitely view this as an opportunity," Marmer said. "I think ... every GM wants to be in a position where they get to build a team from scratch. That is sort of the dream, that's my dream, so be able to have this opportunity to hand-pick players to be in this organization, to represent Boston, I see it as a challenge because there's so many great players."
She added, "I think Boston's a desirable market for anyone playing anywhere around the world. … I expect to get three of the best players in the world (in free agency)."
Sauvageau, 61, has been a coach and executive in women's hockey since 1996. After becoming the first female coach in the QMJHL in 1999-2000, Sauvageau led the Canadian national team to gold as a head coach at the 2001 World Championships and 2002 Olympics. The Montreal native was the GM of the University of Montreal's women's hockey team from 2010-18, where she captured national titles in 2013 and 2016. Sauvageau was an associate head coach and GM in the PWHPA last season.
"I think it is essential to have a face of this first professional team. ... When you've been in the city, you know that people want to have a competitive team, and that's the plan: To build what they deserve," she said.
The PWHL's 24-game regular season will begin in January.