Cheverie up for second straight PWHL coach award, MacLeod and Sparre also finalists

Montreal Victoire's Jessica DiGirolamo (right) pours a beer on head coach Kori Cheverie as they celebrate the team's PWHL Walter Cup win against the Ottawa Charge, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Montreal’s Kori Cheverie, Ottawa’s Carla MacLeod, and Boston’s Kris Sparre are the finalists for the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League coach of the year award, the leaguer announced Friday.

Cheverie led the Walter Cup-champion Victoire to first place in the regular-season standings as the club set league records with 22 wins and a 16-game point streak.

MacLeod helped the Charge secure a playoff spot with a franchise-record 17 wins, including a league-high five victories when trailing after two periods. Ottawa went on to advance to the Walter Cup final, losing to Montreal in four games.

Sparre, in his first PWHL season as a head coach, guided the Fleet to a second-place finish, achieving the fastest playoff clinch in league history at 24 games.

The winner will be announced June 16 in Detroit.

Cheverie won the award last year over MacLeod and Toronto’s Troy Ryan.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2026.

The Canadian Press