In an unexpected turn, Kris Sparre has been named the head coach of the PWHL’s new expansion team in Hamilton, Ont.Sparre just completed his first season with the Boston Fleet and was named a finalist for the PWHL Coach of the Year award after leading the club to the biggest year-over-year improvement in league history. Under Sparre, a newcomer to women’s hockey, the Fleet were the fastest team in PWHL history to clinch a playoff spot, doing so in just 24 games, and tied the league record for points in a season (62), marking an 18-point improvement over the 2024-25 season.“I’m thrilled to have Kris as the first Head Coach in PWHL Hamilton history, bringing a combination of hockey knowledge, leadership, and player development expertise that make him an ideal fit,” Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan said in a news release Wednesday.Sparre joined the Fleet last season after three years as an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. In one season in Boston, Sparre established the Fleet as one of the top teams in the league, despite losing big pieces like U.S. Olympic forwards Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka to the Seattle and Vancouver expansion franchises.