Boston Fleet Name Kris Sparre Head Coach

The Boston Fleet announced Kris Sparre has been named the second head coach in team history. He replaces Courtney Kessel, who left after two seasons for Princeton's head coaching vacancy.

A native of Mississauga, ON, Sparre, 38, was most recently an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) for three seasons. The Gulls announced he would not return on April 22. 

“I’m so excited to welcome Kris Sparre to the Boston Fleet as our new head coach,” said Boston Fleet General Manager Danielle Marmer in a press release. “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.”

This is Sparre’s first professional head coaching job. He brings nine years of associate and assistant coaching experience, split between the Flint Firebirds and Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL and EC Salzburg of the EBEL/ICEHL. Before transitioning into coaching, Sparre played professionally as a forward for ten seasons, spending two seasons in the ECHL before heading over to Germany’s DEL/DEL2 leagues for eight seasons.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of the Boston Fleet,” said Sparre. “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.”