PWHL Hamilton hire Chelsea Walkland, Connor James as assistant coaches

The new team in Steeltown has filled out its bench.

On Tuesday, PWHL Hamilton announced that the team has hired Chelsea Walkland and Connor James as the team’s new assistant coaches. The duo will join the franchise’s first head coach and reigning Coach of the Year, Kris Sparre, ahead of Hamilton’s inaugural season.

Walkland had been the head coach of the Bishop Kearney Selects Girls’ Under-19 AAA team for the past couple of seasons. Before that, she had built an extensive resume in the NCAA ranks. She worked under current New York Sirens head coach Greg Fargo as an assistant at Colgate University from 2019 to 2024, helping guide the Raiders to win four straight ECAC championships. During that time, she coached new Hamilton players Kayle Osborne, Allyson Simpson and Elyssa Biederman. Before that, the Pittsford, N.Y., native was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Robert Morris University, for five seasons. Walkland also played four years for the Colonials from 2006-10.

On top of her collegiate experience, Walkland was an assistant coach for the United States at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, where the Americans took home the silver medal. She was the head coach of the U.S. at the 2023 Collegiate Select Series, where Team USA won all three games against Canada.

In a release, Walkland stated how excited she is to be joining the expansion team in southern Ontario.

“I think the opportunity to work with great people across the organization really drew me into this opportunity,” Walkland said. “We are going to create something special in this community and I think the fans are really excited about hockey. I was fortunate to experience that in person when my daughter and I went to the PWHL Takeover Tour in Hamilton where it was just an incredible atmosphere. I think it is going to be super special and incredible to be a part of.”

James brings both high-end playing experience and skills coaching to the staff. A University of Denver product, he was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 NHL Draft, appeared in 16 NHL games, and also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. James also played against Sparre during his seven seasons in the DEL in Germany. On the bench, James has been head coach of the Burlington Eagles over the past seven years at various age groups, while also working as a skills coach with Shield Athletics.

The Calgary native, who was on Denver’s NCAA championship team in 2004, says he couldn’t pass up the chance to join the PWHL.

“The opportunity to work with Kris Sparre and Meghan Duggan, and to be part of the team’s inaugural season is an incredible opportunity,” James said in a statement. “Both bring an incredible level of experience, knowledge, and passion for the game, and I’m looking forward to working alongside them. Hamilton is a tremendous sports city with a passionate fan base. I am looking forward to contributing to the organization, helping our players develop, and being part of building something special in this community.”