Boston Fleet name Kris Sparre as head coach

“Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.”

Boston Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer (left) introduced new coach Kris Sparre at a news conference on Wednesday. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

By Emma Healy, The Boston Globe

July 23, 2025

2 minutes to read

The Boston Fleet on Wednesday named Kris Sparre the second coach in franchise history.

Sparre, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, will succeed Courtney Kessel, who stepped down in June to lead the Princeton women’s hockey program.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of the Boston Fleet,” Sparre said in a statement released by the team. “This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a league that has experienced remarkable growth and momentum in recent seasons. Boston stands as one of the premier sports cities in the world, and I look forward to building a program that is capable of contending for a championship every season.”

Prior to coaching in the AHL for the Anaheim Ducks’ top affiliate, Sparre, 38, spent one season as an associate coach with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, two seasons as an assistant coach for Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg, and three seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs.

“What makes Kris such a strong fit is his experience in the AHL, where coaches are constantly balancing the need to win now with the responsibility of developing players — a challenge that mirrors what we face in the PWHL,” Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said in a release. “Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment.”

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Sparre played nine seasons of professional hockey between stints in the ECHL and Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

He’ll inherit a team that went 9-6-5-10 last season and missed the playoffs after a collapse in the regular-season finale.

Sparre also will be tasked with building a cohesive team after the Fleet underwent a major roster shakeup in the offseason. The PWHL added Seattle and Vancouver as its first expansion teams, and Boston lost eight core players, including captain Hilary Knight, to the expansion process.

“[Sparre] brings clarity, structure, and a deep commitment to helping players succeed,” Marmer said. “Just as importantly, he’s known as a relationship-driven coach and an elite communicator — someone who builds trust, connects with players, and brings energy and purpose to the rink every day. We’re thrilled to have him leading our team.”