NEWS: McKeough joins PWHL Boston, Wakefield and Bowles to lead team

Photos: Tim Austen / Greg Kolz.
Photos: Tim Austen / Greg Kolz.
October 19, 2023

OTTAWA, ON – University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women's hockey head coach Stefanie McKeough will be departing the Gee-Gees to join the coaching staff of Boston's Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) team for the league's inaugural season.

As with many other collegiate coaches joining PWHL staffs, McKeough will officially be on leave from her position for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

Assistant coaches Jennifer Wakefield and Greg Bowles will assume co-leadership of the program for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, keeping consistent leadership in place for the team as their season is underway.

"We understand this was a difficult decision for Stefanie to make, but we support her taking the opportunity to be a part of something special for women's sports in North America," said Sue Hylland, Senior Director of Recreation and Varsity Sports.

"We are very confident in the continuity of support that both Jennifer and Greg provide to our team, we are very lucky to have them both and are confident they can help guide the team to a lot of success this season," said Hylland.

Wakefield assumed the full-time assistant coach role at the University of Ottawa in early September, after officially wrapping up an illustrious playing career that included representing and winning medals for Canada at two Olympic Games (2014 and 2018) and six World Championships. Wakefield also served as an assistant coach with the Dutch National Team for the past two years prior to joining the Gee-Gees.

Bowles has been an assistant coach and head scout for the Gee-Gees since 2016-17 and has a 20-plus year coaching career. Bowles has been tapped for several international coaching opportunities during his time with Ottawa, including most recently as head coach of Canada's contingent at the Winter World University Games in January 2023, where he guided the red and white to a gold medal finish.

The Gee-Gees' regular season began against Montreal last Friday and will continue at home against Carleton on Oct. 21.