Cara Gardner Morey named first GM of PWHL Vancouver

The PWHL’s first Canadian expansion team has picked its leader.

Cara Gardner Morey was hired as the club’s first general manager, it announced on Friday.

Gardner Morey, 46, comes to Vancouver after 14 seasons with Princeton’s women’s hockey program, where she served as head coach since 2017 and oversaw the likes of Canadian Olympians and current PWHLers Sarah Fillier and Claire Thompson.

“Cara brings exceptional experience at all levels of the game, a deep understanding of player development, and an unwavering passion for advancing women’s sports,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations.

“Her track record at Princeton speaks for itself – instilling a strong culture, recruiting top talent, developing elite athletes and winning championships.”

Gardner Morey, of Hensall, Ont., was part of the Tigers’ first-ever Ivy League title in 2016 and helped the team make multiple appearances in the national quarterfinals.

She played both ice and field hockey at Brown University before competing professionally in the National Women’s Hockey League.

“It’s a privilege to help bring the best women’s hockey to one of the greatest cities in the world,” Gardner Morey said. “We’ll build a team that reflects Vancouver’s passionate spirit — one that competes for the Walter Cup and becomes part of the city’s fabric. I can’t wait to get started.”

Vancouver is scheduled to begin play in the PWHL alongside a fellow expansion team in Seattle next season.

Both are now preparing for an exclusive signing period for expansion teams from June 4 to 8. An expansion draft will follow on June 9.

The PWHL’s six teams — the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres — will each submit three players they want to protect from the expansion process by June 3.

During the signing period, any unprotected player or any player on an expiring contract is eligible can ink a contract with one of the two expansion sides. Each team will be allowed to sign up to five players.

Vancouver and Seattle will then select a minimum of seven players in the expansion draft to reach a 12-player roster.

The league’s entry draft will then be held on June 24, with all eight teams selecting players across six rounds. Free agency will open following the draft.

Ottawa and Minnesota are currently tied 1-1 in the Walter Cup final after trading 2-1 overtime victories. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday.

–with files from The Canadian Press