PWHL Boston hires Courtney Kennedy, Lenny Mosca to coaching staff

The team out of New England has added a few faces to its staff for the upcoming season.

On Monday, the PWHL Boston announced that Courtney Kennedy, Lenny Mosca and Shawn Roche have been added to the team’s coaching staff.

The trio will join head coach Courtney Kessel, as well as assistant coaches Stefanie McKeough and Pernilla Winberg, for the upcoming campaign.

Kennedy joins the team as a skills coach. The Woburn, Massachusetts native has spent the last 17 seasons with Boston College as an associate head coach, helping lead the program’s recruiting efforts. The former Olympian also specialized in setting up the team’s defense and special teams, leading to seven Eagles being named Hockey East Best Defender Awards, including current Boston blueliner Megan Keller, who earned the honor three times.

“Courtney Kennedy is a Boston legend,” PWHL Boston General Manager Danielle Marmer. said in a release. “Not only is she an Olympian and collegiate All-American as a player, but with 17 years coaching at Boston College, and roles as an assistant coach for the U.S. U18 Team and the U.S. Olympic Team, Courtney has mentored some of the top athletes in our sport.”

Kennedy was an assistant coach with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics two years ago, where the team was given the silver medal. She also played for the United States in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics, taking home the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

“I’m honored and excited to join Boston of the PWHL,” Kennedy explained. “And work with some of the best hockey players in the world. I’m from Woburn, so I know what sports mean to this city and I’m geared up to work hard for the players and the whole Boston organization.”

Mosca will be serving as Boston’s new goaltending coach, working with Aerin Frankel, Emma Söderberg and Cam Kronish. Another naive of Massachusetts, Mosca was with UMass Dartmouth’s men’s D-III program for the last two years.

“Lenny has a wealth of experience developing elite goalies at the high school, college, and professional levels,” Marmer said. “His commitment to his athletes and collaborative approach to development will greatly contribute to our goalies’ continued improvement.”

“I’m honored to join the staff of PWHL Boston,” Mosca said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to be a part of an incredible organization. I’m looking forward to the start of the season and leading the goaltenders through a successful year.”

Roche has been with Quinnipiac University’s men’s team over the past six seasons, serving as video coach and director of men’s hockey operations. He was part of the staff that saw the Bobcats win the NCAA National Championship in 2023, the same year the New York native was the video coach for Team USA at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where the team won bronze.

“Shawn brings extensive knowledge of video systems in hockey, having served as a video coordinator in various prestigious roles,” Marmer said. “Shawn’s wealth of expertise will be a valuable addition to PWHL Boston, and we eagerly anticipate integrating his elite skillset into our coaching staff.”

Roche also worked with the New York Rangers from 2016 to 2018 as the video coordinator and assistant video coach.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be a part of the coaching staff with PWHL Boston,” Roche said. “I’m excited for the season to get going and ready to help the team chase the Walter Cup.”