The Professional Women's Hockey League on Tuesday announced the hiring of AHL executive Melissa Caruso to take over as general manager of its Minnesota franchise and shore up a team that dealt with several crises in the weeks .
Caruso, who is from St. Paul, Minnesota, spent 15 years with the American Hockey League, including the past six as vice president of hockey operations and governance. She was responsible for overseeing the league's schedule, player registry and bylaws, while working with the board of governors.
鈥淗er strong background in operations and governance, combined with her extensive hockey knowledge and leadership experience, make her a great fit for the role,鈥� PWHL vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said in a news release. 鈥淢elissa's passion for the game along with her ties to the local community, positions her perfectly to lead the team both on and off the ice.鈥�
The long-awaited hiring comes as the PWHL prepares to open its second season in December.
Caruso , who was removed by the league in June following a monthslong review and mere weeks after Minnesota clinched the Walter Cup in a decisive fifth game. Hefford did not reveal the findings of the league鈥檚 review, which included input from players, staff and team partners, while saying the feedback made clear a change was required.
The troubles in Minnesota didn鈥檛 end there and with coach Ken Klee overseeing personnel decisions and the draft on an interim basis.
At the draft on June 10, Klee , who had drawn criticism from the women鈥檚 hockey and LGBTQ+ communities for supporting transphobic messaging on social media. Klee defended the decision to select the two-year Wisconsin captain by saying he spoke to numerous coaches and players who knew Curl.
Curl issued an apology to fans in a video posted on social media five days later in which she said she took ownership for her actions, and added: 鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much through this, and I鈥檓 seeing it as an opportunity to grow in humility and grow in love.鈥�
In a separate development, the PWHL launched an investigation into Klee after allegations surfaced of him bullying team staff. The league has not provided any updates of its investigation, with Klee scheduled to return as coach for a second season.
The former NHL player and former women鈥檚 U.S. national team coach was a late hire as Minnesota鈥檚 coach, taking over a week before the start of the season in his decision to step down in late December.
Caruso is scheduled to address the media on Wednesday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time for women鈥檚 sports, and I thank leadership for trusting me with the opportunity to lead PWHL Minnesota during these crucial formative years for the league," she said in a statement Tuesday. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to get started on the journey to defend the Walter Cup in Season Two.鈥�
Caruso takes over a team led by a core of current and former high-profile U.S. national team players, including Kendall Coyne Schofield, Kelly Pannek, Taylor Heise and Lee Stecklein.
Caruso graduated from Springfield College with a degree in sport management in 2009, immediately joined the AHL as a business services coordinator and steadily moved up the ranks.
AHL President Scott Howson said Caruso was the mastermind behind scheduling while also handling the board of governors, collective bargaining matters and other aspects of hockey operations such as central registry during her decade and a half with the league.
鈥淪he really grew into a real valuable role, and we鈥檙e just thrilled that she鈥檚 got this opportunity with Minnesota,鈥� Howson told The Associated Press by phone. 鈥淪he鈥檚 studious, a quick learner, she鈥檚 detailed, so she鈥檚 going to do really well. And the exciting part for the PWHL is they鈥檙e not only going to get a general manager, but they鈥檙e going to get somebody that鈥檚 helped run a league for the last 15 years. They鈥檙e in the infancy of their league, and she鈥檒l bring a lot of institutional knowledge, ideas, processes, procedures to that league. She鈥檒l be a resource for the league, and then obviously she鈥檒l help at the club level, as well.鈥�
New Toronto home
The PWHL also announced its Toronto franchise is relocating its home games to Coca-Cola Coliseum, a 7,800-seat venue, which also serves home to the NHL Maple Leafs' affiliate, the AHL Toronto Marlies. The move was expected after the PWHL team sold out its first season while playing in the 2,500-seat Mattamy Athletic Center. Toronto held all three of its playoff games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum to accommodate demand.
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.
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AP Women鈥檚 Hockey:
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
