PWHL Boston New Skills Coach Brings Passion, Energy To Franchise

PWHL Boston made a plethora of additions to its coaching staff on Monday, including skills coach Courtney Kennedy, to help strengthen not only the play on the ice but also as a mentor.

"She's going to be able to add in so many different facets," PWHL Boston general manager Danielle Marmer told NESN.com during a phone interview Wednesday. "Yes, we are bringing her on as skills development, but her experience coaching at a high level, and for as long as she has, she's going to be a mentor for our coaching staff and then for the athletes.

"I'm excited to pick her brain on all kinds of things. Even for me to ask her questions, like how she's built culture and the teams that she's been a part of, and there's just so many different ways we can utilize her."

Kennedy joins PWHL Boston after spending the last 17 seasons as the associate head coach at Boston College, specializing in defense and special teams. In addition to her position with the Eagles, Kennedy helped lead the U.S. National Team to a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

"I'm just excited to have her on board in general, but I think that the skill piece, in the conversations I've had with her, seems to be the thing she's most passionate about. The thing that she's spent the most time doing. Even at her time in BC, those skill sessions were part of the game that she liked the most, and enjoyed working with the athletes, one-on-one or in small group situations."

Passion and energy are not things Kennedy lacks, which can only help PWHL Boston in the upcoming season.

"She's just a ball of energy," Marmer said. "You can hear her from a mile away. I've never been in a situation with her and had a conversation where you couldn't feel the passion oozing through the other end of the phone. I think that's going to be something that's going to really help our team a lot when it comes to development. Players are going to want to get out on the ice with her. She's going to bring that out in them."

Along with Kennedy, PWHL Boston added goalie coach Lenny Mosca and video coach Shawn Roche.