PWHL Hamilton appoints Meghan Duggan as general manager for expansion franchise

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has appointed Meghan Duggan as the general manager of its expansion franchise in Hamilton, Ontario. The announcement, made on Friday, marks Duggan’s departure from her role as director of player development with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Her hiring completes three of the league’s four expansion team general manager positions, signalling a significant step in the PWHL’s structural growth.

Duggan, 38, brings extensive institutional experience to the new role, having previously served as a special consultant for the PWHL’s hockey operations department. Her appointment follows a five-year tenure with the Devils, during which she spent the last four years overseeing player development. The league anticipates finalising its expansion leadership later in the day with the announcement of the general manager for its new San Jose, California, franchise.

The addition of the Hamilton team, alongside new franchises in Detroit and Las Vegas, expands the PWHL to 12 teams for the upcoming season. This move doubles the league’s size since its launch in 2024. Duggan’s immediate responsibilities include hiring a coaching staff and preparing for an expansion signing process scheduled to begin in two weeks, followed by the PWHL draft on June 17.

Duggan’s background includes a distinguished international career as a three-time US Olympian. She won silver medals in 2010 and 2014 before capturing gold in 2018, where she served as team captain. She also secured seven gold medals and one silver across eight World Championship appearances, having played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where she won the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the women’s college hockey MVP.

Despite her American roots, Duggan has established personal ties to the region. She is married to former Team Canada rival Gillian Apps, who is from the Toronto area, located approximately an hour’s drive east of Hamilton. This connection positions Duggan to leverage local networks as the PWHL integrates its fifth Canadian-based franchise into the league structure.