PWHL Hires AHL Director Melissa Caruso to Replace Darwitz as General Manager of Defending Champion Minnesota

The Women’s Professional Hockey League announced Tuesday the hiring of AHL executive Melissa Caruso, who will take over as general manager of the Minnesota franchise and help the team, which has struggled with multiple crises in recent weeks. after winning the first league championship.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Caruso spent 15 years in the American Hockey League, the last six as vice president of hockey operations and management, where she was responsible for overseeing the league’s schedule, player registry and bylaws while working with the board.

“Her strong background in operations and management, combined with her extensive hockey knowledge and leadership experience, make her an excellent fit for this role,” PWHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford said in a PWHL press release. “Melissa’s passion for the game, as well as her ties to the local community, are a great fit to lead the team both on and off the ice.”

The long-awaited hire comes as the PWHL prepares to open its second season in December.

Caruso replaces former US Olympian Natalie Darwitzwhich was removed by the league in June after a months-long review and just weeks after Minnesota won the Walter Cup in a deciding fifth game. Hefford did not disclose the findings of the league’s review, which included input from players, staff and teammates, saying the feedback was clear that a change was needed.

Minnesota’s troubles didn’t end there, especially with coach Ken Klee temporarily overseeing personnel decisions and recruiting.

During the June 10 draft, Klee was asked about using a second-round draft pick to select Britta Curlwho has drawn criticism from the women’s hockey and LGBTQ+ communities for supporting transphobic messages on social media. Klee defended the decision to select the two-year Wisconsin captain, saying he spoke with multiple coaches and players who knew Curl.

Five days later, Curl apologized to fans in a video posted on social media, in which she acknowledged that she took responsibility for her actions and added, “I learned a lot from this and I see this as an opportunity to grow in humility and love.”

In a separate development, the PWHL opened an investigation into Klee after allegations of bullying against team personnel emerged. The league has not provided any updates on its investigation, and Klee is expected to return as coach for a second season.

The former NHL player and former U.S. women’s national team coach was hired as Minnesota’s head coach with a delay, more than a week before the start of the season. after Charlie Burggraf cited family reasons in his decision to resign at the end of December.

Caruso issued a statement and is scheduled to address the media on Wednesday.

“This is an exciting time for women’s sports and I thank the leadership for trusting me with the opportunity to lead the PWHL Minnesota during these key formative years for the league,” she said. “I look forward to beginning the journey to defend the Walter Cup in Season Two.”

Caruso takes over a team led by a core of current and former U.S. National Team honorees, including Kendall Coyne Schofield, Kelly Pannek, Taylor Heise and Lee Stecklein.

Caruso graduated from Springfield College with a degree in sports management in 2009 and immediately joined the AHL as business services coordinator before gradually rising through various positions.

AHL president Scott Howson said Caruso was the brains behind planning and also handled the board of directors, collective bargaining and other aspects of hockey operations, such as the central registry, during her 15 years with the league.

“She’s really developed into a really valuable role and we’re just thrilled that she’s got this opportunity in Minnesota,” Howson told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday. “She’s diligent, she’s a quick learner, she’s detailed, so she’s going to do really well. And the exciting part for the PWHL is that not only are they getting a general manager, they’re getting someone who’s helped run the league for the last 15 years. They’re in the infancy of their league and she’s going to bring a lot of institutional knowledge, ideas, processes and procedures to this league. She’s going to be a resource for the league and then of course she’s going to help at the club level as well.”

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AP hockey writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this article.

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AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey