A who's who of people with roots in Canadian women's hockey were hired to step behind the benches of Professional Women's Hockey League teams in the league's inaugural season.

Five of the six head coaches announced Friday by the PWHL are Canadian: Troy Ryan (Toronto), Carla MacLeod (Ottawa), Kori Cheverie (Montreal) Courtney Birchard-Kessel (Boston) and Howie Draper (New York).

Minnesotan Charlie Burggraf was named head coach of the Minneapolis-St. Paul club. The coaches were hired by their respective teams' general managers.

The PWHL will hold a 15-round draft Monday in Toronto and start training camps Nov. 13.

Ryan of Spryfield, N.S., will continue to coach the Canadian women's team in addition to his new PWHL job. He signed a four-year contract extension last year with Hockey Canada through to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

He navigated Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2022, back-to-back world titles in 2021 and 2022 and a world silver medal this year since taking over as head coach in 2019-20.

Toronto GM Gina Kingsbury has hired Ryan a second time. She promoted him from assistant to head coach of the national women's team while she was Hockey Canada's head of that program.

The PWHL, which opens a 24-game regular season in January, intends to accommodate the schedules of its international players in order for them to compete in both.

The coaching appointments shake up the university ranks.

MacLeod, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in women's hockey, and longtime Pandas coach Draper leave the Calgary and Alberta programs respectively for their PWHL gigs.

"It is with mixed emotions I take this next step," MacLeod said in a statement. "The excitement surrounding the PWHL, and the direction women's hockey is headed professionally is certainly something I am proud to be a part of. I am humbled that Ottawa believes I am the right coach to help build their program and look forward to the opportunity that lies ahead."

PWHL Draft on Sportsnet

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft, on Monday, Sept. 18, will air on Sportsnet One & Sportsnet+. Rounds 1 to 4 are scheduled to take place from 1 to 3 p.m. ET.

Watch on Sportsnet+

Canadians dominate PWHL coach hirings

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