U.S. women’s hockey legend Meghan Duggan named GM of PWHL Hamilton
Meghan Duggan has been hired as general manager of the PWHL’s new expansion franchise in Hamilton, Ont. , the league announced on Friday. The 38-year-old is one of the most decorated players in U.
S. women’s national team history. Duggan is a seven-time world champion, a three-time Olympian and was captain of the team that won gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
Duggan also led a historic boycott against USA Hockey, demanding better wages and more equitable support for American female hockey players. “Meghan has been an effective leader at every stage of her career, and she is a rising star in the front office ranks,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations. “Meghan’s long list of on-ice achievements, coupled with her extensive background in development and community-building, make her a seamless fit to guide PWHL Hamilton into its first season.
” After announcing her retirement in 2020, Duggan spent the last five years with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, most recently as the team’s director of player development. She has also held roles with the PWHL since 2024 as a special consultant to the hockey operations staff and a member of the league’s player safety committee. Duggan will be tasked with assembling PWHL Hamilton’s inaugural 2026-27 roster through the league’s expansion roster-building process and via the 2026 PWHL Draft.
“I’m incredibly honored and energized to join PWHL Hamilton as general manager,” said Duggan. “This league represents the future of women’s professional sports and the opportunity to help build a team, culture, and identity from the ground up is a privilege. ” The league has yet to officially announce how expansion teams will be built or how the four new franchises will be integrated into the entry draft, which will be held in less than a month on June 17.