A Spring and Summer full of changes for the Boston Fleet

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It has been an interesting offseason for the Boston Fleet of the PWHL. It all began back on the last day of the regular season. Needing one point to make the playoffs, the Fleet hosted the Minnesota Frost on May 3. In front of a crowd of 4,500, Boston turned in a performance that can be described as a colossal egg. The 8-1 defeat left the team out of the playoffs and jump-started the Frost toward their run, which led to back-to-back Walter Cup titles.

For Boston, the loss signaled so much more. A roster shakeup was in order, with help from an expansion draft that was bringing two new teams on board in Seattle and Vancouver. The first shoe to drop was assistant general manager Megan Turner, leaving the Fleet and taking the GM job in Seattle. Next, with only three players being allowed to be protected by the league, all of the original six teams have tough decisions to make. For Boston, the fate of Hilary Knight had to be made. With a year left on her deal, it was determined by GM Dannelle Marmer that leaving her exposed was in the best interests of the team. Knight was quickly scooped up by Turner in Seattle.

Before and after the draft, the Boston Fleet has been reshaping the roster. With many free agents on the team, some have left either by the expansion draft or by simply signing with other teams. The front office has been busy signing new players to replace those who have left. A program may be needed come opening night. At the draft, Boston selected six players that they hope will be the foundation of the new team. Time will tell on those selections.

However, maybe the most challenging decision yet to be made is at the head coaching position. Courtney Kessel, who for the past two years has been at the helm of this ship, left before the draft took place to take the head coaching job at Princeton University. It is a full circle move for Kessel since she began her coaching career with the Tigers as an assistant for four years, 2019-2023.

Kessel returns to Princeton with both collegiate and professional coaching experience under her belt. Her record with the Fleet was 27-19-8. She would lead them to a Walter Cup final in 2024, the first year in the league. While it was difficult to leave the Fleet and the PWHL, Kessel believed she could not pass up returning to New Jersey and Princeton University. During her first four-year run as an assistant coach, the Tigers posted a record of 54-36-7. They would win an ECAC championship in 2020 with a record of 26-6-1. They would be selected for the NCAA Women’s Hockey Tournament. A tournament that would never take place because of Covid-19.

What makes this even more interesting is, the person she is replacing is heading to the league Kessel is leaving behind. Cary Morey left the University to become the new GM of the Vancouver franchise in the PWHL. She spent 14 years at the school, the last eight as the head coach of the program. Kessel was with her for four of those years. The Tigers made the tournament three times and won two Ivy League titles while Morey was both an assistant and head coach.

How all of this plays out is anyone’s guess. However, there is no question, the Boston Fleet that fans have grown to love and root for has become somewhat of a distant memory.