The Seattle Torrent announced Thursday that Christine Bumstead has been elevated to head coach of the PWHL franchise.
Bumstead previously served as an assistant coach throughout the team’s inaugural 2025-26 campaign under Steve O’Rourke, who left the organization last month after the club finished at the bottom of the eight-team league standings.
“Season one in Seattle was special, and I am humbled and honored to continue building on it,” Bumstead said in a news release. “I believe Seattle is the best city in the world for women’s sports. Our fans showed up night in and night out, and it has been a privilege to be on the bench representing them. I am beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead this organization.”
Prior to her role with Seattle, Bumstead worked as an assistant coach for four years at the University of Saskatchewan. She also gained experience in player development with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, where she made history as the organization’s first female coach.
“Christine brings a valuable combination of hockey expertise, leadership presence, and an unwavering commitment to high standards,” general manager Meghan Turner said. “Her unique background in education and diverse coaching resume, combined with a strong natural ability to build trust and meaningful connections, make her well-suited to lead our team. I’m confident that Christine’s vision and style will set us on the right path as we build into our second season and strive toward our goal of bringing the Walter Cup home to Seattle.”
