PWHL Hamilton adds assistants Walkland, James to Sparre’s coaching staff
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
HAMILTON – The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Hamilton team has hired Chelsea Walkland and Connor James as assistant coaches ahead of its inaugural 2026-27 season.
The team announced the first additions to head coach Kris Sparre’s staff in a release Tuesday.
Walkland was head coach of the U19 women’s hockey program at Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, N.Y., and was an assistant coach at Colgate University and Robert Morris University.
She was also an assistant coach for the United States at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship and head coach for the 2023 Collegiate Select Series against Canada.
James was most recently a skills coach with Shield Athletics, a hockey development and therapy organization in Burlington, Ont., and coached at various levels in the Burlington Eagles AAA program.
James was selected by Los Angeles in the ninth round of the 2002 NHL draft and played 16 games with the Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins during a 16-year professional career.
He also represented Canada at the Deutschland Cup three times.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2026.