Christine Bumstead Becomes First Assistant Coach for PWHL’s Seattle Expansion Team

SEATTLE, Washington – Thursday afternoon (Aug. 21), General Manager Meghan Turner and Head Coach Steve O'Rourke of Seattle's Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) expansion team, announced that Huskie Women's Hockey Assistant Coach Christine Bumstead, will become the first assistant coach in franchise history. 

"There's a lot of excitement," said Bumstead. "You're not just coming into something that's already established. It's like we get to create something and that's the same experience the first six PWHL teams had two years ago. We're creating a culture and a standard of what professional women's hockey looks like in Seattle."

Bumstead joined the Huskies prior to the 2021-22 Canada West season and has since helped to guide the Dogs to three playoff berths and two appearances at the U SPORTS National Championship.

"We are incredibly proud of Christine Bumstead as she takes this exciting next step in her coaching journey with the Professional Women's Hockey League's expansion team in Seattle," said Huskie Women's Hockey head coach Steve Kook. "Her dedication, leadership, and passion for the game have made a lasting impact on our organization, and we're thrilled to see her talents recognized at the professional level. It's awesome to see one of our own making the leap to the next level. Christine's been a huge part of our coaching family, and we couldn't be prouder to see her grow and take on this exciting challenge. We'll definitely miss her around here and we wish her all the best in this new chapter and will be cheering her on every step of the way."

It was an email to Kook which sparked Bumstead's journey, something which, according to her, is the reason she is in the position she is now. 

"When I emailed Steve [Kook], I think that opened a door for me that I never would have. If he hadn't said yes, I'd probably still be a teaching in Manitoba and coaching AAA and loving it. But none of this would have become a reality."

Since joining the Huskie staff, Bumstead has not only developed as a coach but also witnessed her portfolio within the team expand in a comparable manner, leading to her taking responsibility for the defensive scheme and penalty kill.

"I learned a lot from him, and right from the get-go, you know, the beast that is university sport. All the logistics that go into it, travel planning, and a wide variety of hockey ops things just from watching him. And it wasn't just him, also Brian [McGregor], Nolan [Horbach], Robin [Ulrich], and Sheldon [Goertzen], everybody here."

"I think coaching with the Huskies was the real starting block for me and it's a chapter of, not only my coaching journey, but also my life that I will never forget. I always say those players are my girls and they've left a giant paw print on my heart, and they'll always be there, and I'll take that with me to Seattle."

Her development didn't stop with the Huskies either; the product of Winnipeg has served as the Saskatoon Blades (WHL) Performance Coach for the past two seasons in addition to her role as head coach of Canada's female deaf hockey team. 

Just last offseason, Bumstead also received the opportunity to spend both development and training camps with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, an experience that just may have triggered some thoughts about her future.

"It was very fast in comparison to what I've coached before, but it still felt natural in the sense of this is what I do. This is what we do as coaches, and you think it did put a little fire into my belly and drive me, like how do I get back here?"

"I thought this was very much a future thing, to be back on a professional bench. And those opportunities help you grow but also fuel you with a taste and then you don't just want the sampling plate, you want the full meal."

Despite that, looking too far into the future is something Bumstead has typically avoided, and something she never considered the PWHL to be a part of. 

"Not at all. I think I'm someone who is never looking too far in advance, I'm very much where my feet are and working with the players in front of me. But coaching in the PWHL is honestly not something that ever crossed my mind for this season until the first phone call."

Now that she's gotten there, this opportunity is not just about what she brings as a coach, but how she sets the next generation up for success.

"For me I've always thought when you get yourself a seat at the table, it's not just for you. It's about bringing people with you. People use the word trailblazer or ones similar, but it's about more than just getting there, it's about what do you do now? What do you do with that seat?"

"In this case, it's an opportunity for Seattle locally to grow women's and girls' sports. They have their WNBA team and women's sports there are taking off which is why it is such an exciting place to be building this team."

Bumstead now marks the second Huskie Women's Hockey connection to the PWHL, joining USask alumna and former standout Kaitlyn Willoughby who will play her third season in the league in 2025-26 with the Montréal Victoire.

"We are so proud to see Christine take on this new challenge during a time when women's professional sports are experiencing exciting and exponential growth," said Shannon Chinn, Chief Athletics Officer for the USask Huskies. "Christine embodies the Huskies spirit of excellence, and we are grateful for the leadership, skill and development she has brought to our women's hockey program. We will be watching and cheering her on as she cements herself in hockey history, inspiring the next generation of women and girls to hit the ice and claim their spot on the bench."

PWHL Seattle is one of two expansion teams new to the league for the 2025-26 season with the city of Vancouver also receiving a women's hockey franchise. The PWHL's expansion comes after a highly successful second season with total attendance growing by 52.5%, digital engagement by 68%, and team and league partnership portfolios by 50%, according to the league's website. Additionally, Hockey Canada has seen a record-setting number of women and girls participating in hockey with over 115,000 registered in 2024-25.