The Boston Fleet on Wednesday named Kris Sparre the second coach in franchise history.
Sparre most recently served as an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. He will succeed Courtney Kessel, who departed the Fleet in June to take the reins of the women’s hockey program at Princeton.
“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.”
Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer referred to Sparre’s extensive coaching experience with young players, making him the ideal person to take the helm in Boston.
“I’m so excited to welcome Kris Sparre to the Boston Fleet as our new head coach,” Marmer said in the statement. “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. Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment.
“He brings clarity, structure, and a deep commitment to helping players succeed. 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.”
Before joining the Gulls coaching staff, 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.
The Mississauga, Ontario, native will inherit a Fleet team that went 9-6-5-10 last season and missed the playoffs after coming up one game shy of the inaugural Walter Cup championship in 2024. Eight players from the inaugural lineup who helped the team reach the Finals remain on Boston’s roster after the Fleet underwent a major roster shakeup in the offseason. The Fleet lost eight core players, including captain Hilary Knight, to the expansion process.
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