Seattle Torrent fires coach Steve O'Rourke after dismal last-place finish
The Seattle Torrent has dismissed head coach Steve O’Rourke after just one season in charge. The decision comes as the team finished last in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), struggling with both offence and defence throughout the campaign.
O’Rourke took over last year but saw little success on the ice. Between 7 January and 7 April, the Torrent managed only three wins. Their offence averaged a modest 2.1 goals per game, while their defence conceded 92 goals—the worst record in the league. Special teams also faltered, with the penalty kill and power play ranking fourth-worst in the PWHL.
The firing follows the Montréal Victoire’s championship win, sparking a wave of coaching changes across the expanding league. Since April, four new teams have joined, bringing the PWHL to 12 franchises. Before Seattle, O’Rourke coached the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League. General manager Meghan Turner acknowledged O’Rourke’s efforts but confirmed the club was moving in a new direction. Among the potential replacements is Jessica Campbell, a former assistant coach for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
The Torrent now face a crucial off-season as they search for a new head coach. With the league growing rapidly, the team will need to address its defensive and offensive weaknesses before the next campaign. The next hire will be tasked with turning around a squad that underperformed in nearly every area last season.
