May 23, 2025, 04:05 PM ET
Cara Gardner Morey has left Princeton after seven seasons as a women’s hockey coach after being hired as general manager and the first employee of the PWHL Vancouver expansion franchise, the league announced Friday.
Apart from spending 14 seasons at Princeton, Gardner Molly has played a variety of coaching roles in Hockey Canada at the senior woman and under-18 level, serving as developmental camp coach for the Philadelphia Flyers for the past four years. She coached the Tigers for their first ECAC Conference Tournament title in 2020 as part of the school record 26 win season.
Her former Tigers players include forward Salafirier’s Canadian national team member and defensive man Clare Thompson, who was selected first and third overall in last year’s PWHL draft.
Editor’s Pick
Gardner Morey’s top priorities include coaching and recruiting support staff, including the league’s exclusive expansion signature period starting June 4-8 and preparation for the expansion draft on June 9th.
Her employment comes two days after PWHL appointed Boston Fleet assistant GM Meghan Turner to take over as general manager of other expansion franchises in Seattle. The six-team league announced the addition of Vancouver and Seattle at separate newspaper meetings a week away later last month, during the end of its second season.
“Cara brings extraordinary experiences at all levels of the game, bringing a deeper understanding of player development and an unwavering passion for women’s sports to advance,” said Jayna Hefford, Executive Vice President of Hockey Business.
From Hensal, Ontario, Gardner Molly played both ice and field hockey at Brown University, playing in the original NWHL. She received her Masters in Education from Arizona.
“It’s a privilege to help bring the best women’s hockey to one of the greatest cities in the world,” Gardner Molly said.
Vancouver was named PWHL’s first expanded franchise after attracting 19,038 sold-out crowds to the neutral site game in January. The yet-unnamed Vancouver team will play from their former homes at the Vancouver Canucks, the Pacific Coliseum.
