Gina Kingsbury and Troy Ryan Will Lead Team Canada Through 2026 Olympics

Hockey Canada has announced that Gina Kingsbury and Troy Ryan will lead Canada’s National Women’s Team as general manager and head coach, through the 2025-26 season and into the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Kingsbury departed Hockey Canada in September to become the first general manager of PWHL Toronto. Ryan, who took on the position of full-time head coach of the National Women’s Team in August, will serve as the head coach for all events and camps, in addition to his role as the head coach of PWHL Toronto. The duo will lead Canada through major international events such as the IIHF Women’s World Championship, Rivalry Series, and the 2026 Olympics in Italy.

Kingsbury played a crucial role in Canada’s National Women’s Team, contributing to consecutive gold medal victories at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships. Additionally, she earned two silver medals (2018, 2023) and one bronze (2019) at Women’s Worlds. Her accomplishments extend to the Olympic stage, where she secured a silver in 2018 and a gold in 2022. Kingsbury also helped guide Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team in clinching three gold medals (2019, 2022, 2023) at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, and securing three silver medals (2016, 2018, 2020). 

“While my role will look a little different than before, I continue to have the same amount of pride in wearing the Maple Leaf and I remain committed to helping build a team that Canadians can be proud to support over the next three seasons,” Kingsbury said in a press release. 

Since 2020, Ryan has held the position of head coach for Canada’s National Women’s Team. His recent accomplishments include securing a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship, and clinching gold at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships, as well as the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. In his role as an assistant coach, Ryan contributed to a silver medal win at the 2018 Olympics, as well as silver and bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championships, respectively. Additionally, he led Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship as head coach.

“It is an honour to represent my country, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to coach Canada’s National Women’s Team as we work towards defending our Olympic gold medal in 2026,” Ryan mentioned in a press release. 

Canada’s National Women’s Team will take on the United States in the seven-game Rivalry Series across Canada and the U.S. throughout the 2023-24 season ahead of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, set for April 3-14 in Utica, New York. The first game is scheduled for November 8th in Tempe, Arizona.