The Boston Fleet is a professional ice hockey team based in Lowell, Massachusetts, and one of the six founding teams of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). The team was announced on August 29, 2023. The team signed key players like Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, and Megan Keller, and selected Alina Müller third overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft.
In their inaugural 2024 season, the Fleet made a strong impression, finishing third in the league and securing a playoff spot. They defeated Montreal in the first round, with all victories coming in overtime. However, they lost in the Walter Cup final to Minnesota. The team originally operated as PWHL Boston but rebranded to the Boston Fleet in September 2024. Their team colors are green, gray, and white.
Who is Boston Fleet Head Coach 2024?
According to WGBH, Boston Fleet's head coach in 2024 is Courtney Kessel. She spoke about the team's growth from their inaugural season, noting the challenges of building the program from scratch. She said the team now has a better understanding of expectations and knows what it takes to be a professional team than the previous year.
Courtney Birchard-Kessel is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. She is currently the head coach of the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). As a player, Birchard-Kessel was part of the Canadian national ice hockey team and earned three medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship. She debuted with Team Canada at the 2010 Four Nations Cup. She was drafted 6th overall by the Brampton Thunder in the 2011 CWHL Draft.
Birchard-Kessel played high school sports at Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School and was a member of the Toronto Jr. Aeros, where she captained the team during the 2006–07 season and won several provincial titles. In college, Birchard-Kessel played for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats in the NCAA, where she excelled in Hockey East, earning her first career point in 2007. She was also part of the Canadian national under-22 team and participated in international camps.
After her playing career, she became a coach. She was the head coach at Havergal College and assistant coach with the Oakville Hornets. In 2018, she became the head coach of the Toronto Furies. She also coached Hockey Canada's U-18 team to a gold medal at the 2019 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship. In 2023, she became the associate head coach at Boston University and later was named the inaugural head coach of the Boston Fleet in the PWHL.
Courtney Kessel's physical attributes
Courtney Kessel | Physical Attributes |
Age | July 14, 1989 (age 35) |
Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
Weight | 150 pounds (68 kg) |
Courtney Kessel age
Courtney Birchard-Kessel was born on July 14, 1989, which makes her 35 years old.
Courtney Kessel height
Courtney Birchard-Kessel is 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall.
Courtney Kessel weight
Courtney Birchard-Kessel weighs 150 pounds (68 kg).
Boston Fleet General Manager
According to coachesinc, Danielle Marmer is the General Manager of the Boston team in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), having been appointed on August 23, 2023. She led the team to the championship game in their inaugural season.
Before her current role, Marmer worked as a player development and scouting assistant for the Boston Bruins, making history as the first woman to have an on-ice role with the NHL team.
Marmer also served as an assistant coach for Connecticut College's women's ice hockey program starting in 2017. In her first season, she helped the team achieve a program record of 15 wins and a second-place finish in the NESCAC. She was involved in recruiting, player evaluations, practices, and strength and conditioning.
Marmer has been active in USA Hockey, working at camps and as a U15 National Camp Intern. She also selected players for the USA National Camp in the Atlantic District in 2018 and 2019.
A former forward for Quinnipiac University (2013-2017), Marmer was part of the 2015-16 ECAC Championship team. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's in Legal Studies and earned multiple academic awards.
Boston Fleet Captain
According to WGBH, the Boston Fleet's captain is Hilary Knight, who scored the team's only goal in their home opener against the Minnesota Frost on December 4, 2024, a game that ended in a 2-1 loss.
According to TeamUSA, Hilary Knight is an American ice hockey forward, born on July 12, 1989, in Sun Valley, Idaho. She stands 5'11" tall and weighs 172 pounds. Knight played for the University of Wisconsin, leading the team to two NCAA championships. She has represented the U.S. in four Olympic Winter Games, winning gold in 2018 and silver in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
Knight has earned numerous accolades, including being named IIHF Female Player of the Year in 2023. She has participated in 15 Women's World Championships, winning gold in several tournaments. Professionally, she has played for teams like the Boston Fleet in the PWHL, Les Canadiennes de Montreal, and Boston Pride.
Boston Fleet Head Coaches year by year
According to theicegarden, The Boston Fleet's only head coach is Courtney Kessel. She was appointed as the first-ever head coach of the team in the newly-formed Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Kissel has significant experience in coaching, including a previous role as head coach for the CWHL's Toronto Furies and assistant coaching positions with the Princeton University women's hockey team and Canada's National Women’s Team.
Head Coach | Position |
Courtney Kessel | September 2023 |
Boston Fleet Managers 2024
This is a look at the managers in the Boston Fleet team as per the PWHL official site:
Manager | Position |
Danielle Marmer | General Manager |
Pernilla Winberg | Associate Coach |
Stefanie McKeough | Associate Coach |
Boston Fleet Staff 2024
This is a look at the other staff in the Boston Fleet team as per the PWHL official site -
Staff | Position |
Courtney Kennedy | Skills Coach |
Lenny Mosca | Goalie Coach |
Shawn Roche | Video Coach |
FAQs on Boston Fleet Head Coach
A. Courtney Birchard-Kessel is the head coach of the Boston Fleet.
A. Courtney Birchard-Kessel was born on July 14, 1989.
A. Courtney Birchard-Kessel was born in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.
A. Courtney Birchard-Kessel is 35 years old.
A. Courtney Birchard-Kessel attended the University of New Hampshire.