What PWHL Hamilton’s New Coaching Hires Bring to the Team
Written by Ryan McAvoy
HAMILTON – After hiring head coach Kris Sparre in May, PWHL Hamilton has added assistant coaches Chelsea Walkland and Connor James to its inaugural coaching staff. The two bring contrasting backgrounds to the expansion franchise, combining collegiate success, player development and professional playing experience as Hamilton prepares for its first season.
Before joining Hamilton, Walkland served as the head coach of Bishop Kearney’s U19 team. In her debut season, the Selects went 56-3-0 and won the 2025 Chipotle-USA Girls Tier I 19U National Championship. She also spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Colgate University from 2019 to 2024, helping the program win four consecutive ECAC Hockey Championships. Walkland also gained NHL-level coaching experience as a guest coach at the Buffalo Sabres’ 2023 Development Camp, where she worked with and evaluated prospects.
“Chelsea is an outstanding addition to our coaching staff,” PWHL Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan said. “She has a tremendous track record of developing players, helping to build successful programs, and creating environments where athletes can reach their potential.”
Walkland also enters Hamilton with familiarity with several players on the roster. During her time at Colgate, she coached goaltender Kayle Osborne and defender Allyson Simpson. As head coach of the Collegiate Select Series, she also worked with Simpson, defender Riley Brengman, and Hamilton’s third-round pick, forward Elyssa Bierdman. That existing familiarity could help Walkland establish trust quickly as the expansion roster comes together.
James brings a different perspective after spending 16 seasons as a professional hockey player. Selected 279th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 NHL Draft, he went on to play within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and in the AHL, ECHL and Germany’s DEL.
Since retiring, James has continued working in player development. He served as a skills coach with Shield Athletics and was the head coach of the Burlington Eagles AAA program from 2019 through 2026.
“Connor brings a wealth of professional hockey experience and a unique perspective to our staff,” Duggan said. “Having played at the NHL, AHL and international levels, he understands the demands of the game and what it takes to compete and succeed as a professional.”
The contrast between Walkland and James could become one of Hamilton’s strengths. Walkland’s background in collegiate and developmental hockey gives her extensive experience building winning teams, while James’ professional playing and skills-development background provides another avenue for individual player growth.
Hamilton already has an experienced offensive core for the coaches to work with. Forward Brianne Jenner leads the team with 28 career regular-season goals, while forwards Alina Müller and Emily Clark have 16 apiece. Walkland’s experience developing offensive talent could be particularly valuable as Hamilton looks to establish its identity and develop its younger players around that veteran core.
James, meanwhile, could provide a more individualized approach to player development. His skills-coaching experience allows him to work with players on areas ranging from skating and stickhandling to offensive and defensive technique. That role could become increasingly important as Hamilton adds players and continues shaping its roster ahead of the November start to the season.
For an expansion franchise, building a coaching staff is about more than filling positions behind the bench. Hamilton is establishing its culture from the ground up, and Walkland and James give Sparre two coaches with distinctly different paths through the sport.
With the 2026-27 season approaching, Hamilton has already taken an important step toward establishing that foundation. The next test will be turning the experience of its coaching staff into results on the ice.
