The PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres have a lot of work to do this offseason. Between signing free agents, protecting players through expansion and the PWHL draft, there’s plenty of work ahead. Add to that now: hiring a new head coach.
Last week, the PWHL announced that Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan has been named head coach and general manager of PWHL San Jose. It’s an interesting move for a number of reasons, but focusing on the Sceptres, it means they’ll get a fresh start after missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
There’s a lot to consider when looking at potential replacements for Ryan. The PWHL doesn’t really make coaching salaries public knowledge. That makes it difficult to consider whether some candidates would consider leaving their NCAA positions for a pro job, or whether it’d be worth it (financially) for them to do so.
With that said, here are a few names who could be candidates for the Toronto Sceptres’ head coaching gig.
Vicky Sunohara
- Currently: Team Consultant, Toronto Sceptres & Head Coach, Canada U18
- Why it makes sense: Vicki Sunohara already has plenty of ties to the Toronto area. A native of nearby Scarborough, she joined the Sceptres as a coach consultant in 2024. Sunohara also spent 14 years as head coach at the University of Toronto. In her playing days, she spent years with the Brampton Thunder (NWHL/CWHL) and played with other local teams, too. Aside from the local connections, she’s got an impressive resume, with three Olympic medals, eight Worlds medals and a CWHL championship. She is also a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame.
Britni Smith
- Currently: TBD
- Why it makes sense: Smith recently left Syracuse’s head coaching position so she could be closer to home. She has national team ties, having served as an assistant coach for Canada at the Olympics. Smith has years of coaching experience at the NCAA level and previously played for the Toronto Aeros/Toronto Furies in the CWHL.
Rachel Flanagan
- Currently: Assistant Coach, Toronto Sceptres
- Why it makes sense: Flanagan has served as an assistant coach for three seasons with the Sceptres. She’s well familiar with the team, players and its inner workings. If the Sceptres are looking at internal candidates, Flanagan just makes sense. She previously spent 16 seasons as head coach at the University of Guelph and served as their director of hockey operations before joining the PWHL.
Sami Jo Small
- Currently: Commentator/Broadcast
- Why it makes sense: If she’d be interested, Sami Jo Small would make a lot of sense in some role for the Toronto Sceptres, be it head coach or perhaps an assistant GM role. Small previously served as president of the Toronto Six in 2022-23 and as general manager of the Toronto Furies in 2018-19. As a player, she won three Olympic medals and four Worlds medals. She also spent many years playing in the Toronto area, between the Brampton Thunder, Mississauga Chiefs, Toronto Aeros & Furies.
Courtney Kessel
- Currently: Head coach, Princeton University
- Why it makes sense: Courtney Kessel has prior PWHL experience, after serving as head coach of the Boston Fleet from 2023-2025. But she also has ties to the Toronto area, with nearby Etobicoke as her hometown. She was head coach of the CWHL’s Furies in 2018-19 and played for the Brampton Thunder from 2011-2017. However, it may be a challenge for the PWHL to get her back from the NCAA.
Aside from the obvious question of who the next Toronto Sceptres head coach will be is the other question: when will the new head coach be named? It seems likely that the PWHL would want to have someone in place ahead of the draft, which is scheduled for June 17. Stay tuned to The IX Sports for more information as details become available.