Courtney Kessel Takes the Helm of Women’s Hockey at Princeton
Courtney Kessel, who recently coached the Boston Fleet team in the PWHL for two seasons, has been named coach of the Princeton women’s hockey team. Kessel returns to Princeton after his time as an assistant there between 2019 and 2023, under the direction of Cara Gardner Morey. Now, he succeeds Gardner Morey, who left the Tigers in May to become general manager of the PWHL expansion team in Vancouver. At 35 years old, Kessel accumulated a record of 27-19-8 in Boston, including a participation in the Walter Cup final in 2024, where his team was defeated by Minnesota in the fifth and decisive game.Originally from Toronto, Kessel played at the University of New Hampshire, where she was a finalist in 2010 for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the most valuable player in women’s college hockey. She also represented Canada in three world championships, including a gold medal in 2012. In addition, Kessel has experience as a coach at Hockey Canada, serving as an assistant for the senior team in 2024 and as the head coach of the Under-18 team that won the gold medal in 2023. The Fleet team has experienced significant changes this offseason.It’s bittersweet to leave the Boston Fleet and the incredible people who build that organization and the PWHL in its entirety. This opportunity was the only one that could take me away from where I was.
Courtney Kessel
