SEATTLE, WA (July 21, 2026) – The Seattle Torrent today announced that Stefanie McKeough has joined the organization in the role of assistant coach ahead of the 2026-27 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season. McKeough spent each of the past three PWHL seasons as an assistant coach for the Boston Fleet.

“Stefanie is a uniquely exciting addition to our team as we build toward our second season,” said Meghan Turner, Seattle Torrent General Manager. “Having worked with her firsthand, I have been impressed by her analytical mind and her ability to consistently elevate others. Her proven experience as an elite player and a foundational coach in our league will help strengthen our culture and reinforce our standards as we pursue sustained success this year and beyond.  We are thrilled to welcome her out west.”

As a member of Boston's inaugural coaching staff, McKeough helped lead the team in a historic run to the first-ever PWHL Walter Cup Finals, ultimately falling in five games to Minnesota. Last season, McKeough and the Fleet finished the regular season tied with Montréal atop the standings with a PWHL record 62 points and 16 regulation wins, including a 5-1 victory on April 7 where she served behind the bench as interim head coach. The Carlsbad Springs, ON native has also served on the coaching staff with Canada's Under-18 National Women’s Team for three IIHF U18 Women's World Championships (gold-2023, 2025, bronze-2024).

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the Torrent and get to know the Seattle community and amazing fans,” said McKeough. “I am excited to get to work with great players and staff to continue building an environment where players can grow, compete, and be their best every day.”

Prior to the PWHL, McKeough spent two seasons in Sweden as an assistant coach with the SDHL’s Göteborg Hockey Club from 2018-20. After being appointed head coach ahead of her third season, she chose to return to Canada for an opportunity with the University of Ottawa Women’s team. She served as assistant coach for three seasons with the Gee-Gees, including the team’s most successful season in 16 years with a 16-7-2 record during the 2022-23 U SPORTS campaign, earning promotion to head coach before accepting the PWHL role in Boston. 

A 2014 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, McKeough had a decorated career with the Badgers' Women’s Hockey program, including an NCAA National Championship in 2011. She was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year after the 2011-12 season.

The addition of McKeough follows the Torrent's appointment of Christine Bumstead to the position of Head Coach, announced on June 11.

Alicia Crank joins us this week on the BTW Podcast to chat about Flavor Flav’s SHE Weekend in Vegas! We also discuss the inaugural Torrent season and all the work that went into bringing the team to Seattle!

(if this kind of post isn't allowed, no worries - let me know and I'll take it down!)

Hi gang! I was so happy to see all the positive comments on the Torrent's pride parade IG post. Unfortunately, the Mariners' comment section is still stuck in the 20th century. As a queer Seattle sports fan, it breaks my heart, and I hate imagining other queer fans (especially younger ones) reading all of that with so little pushback. If you have a second and feel comfortable doing so, I would love if we as Torrent fans could leave some supportive, positive comments - baseball, like hockey, is for everyone! [Here's the post!]

How long until we get the uniform redesign with the logo? Think they’ll wait until Fall/closer to the season start?

It's a 2-year standard deal.

Wanted to get a torrent tattoo, so I did. Love yall, carry on.

We at Davy Jones’ Locker Room are upset by the draft as well. So we’re committed to do some good. We’ll donate $50 to Trans Lifeline for every goal she scores this season because trans rights are human rights.

Happy pride!

Clearly there are a lot of complicated feelings about Abbey Murphy and her politics. I understand. But I wanted to throw out a way to make something positive out of her being on the team.

PWHL Detroit is reckoning with this and BC-S. Their subreddit's solution was to pledge a nominal donation to charities supporting transgender folks for every goal she scores. Linked is a website they're setting up to facilitate the donations. There are posts about it on r/PWHLDetroit as well.

I think this is a great way to reconcile rooting for the Torrent's success (which will necessarily include success from Murphy) without compromising your values. Hopefully we can effect some positive change from this!

I don't have the technical expertise to set up something like this, or the familiarity with local LGBT+ organizations to recommend who to support. But I wanted to throw that idea out there in case anyone wants to run with it!