Oilers hire NWHL founder Dani Rylan Kearney as regional scout

The Edmonton Oilers have hired former National Women's Hockey League commissioner Dani Rylan Kearney as a regional scout.

The team announced the addition to its hockey operations department Thursday, just after the start of the NHL season.

Rylan Kearney, 36, founded the NWHL in 2015 and was in charge of the league until she stepped down in October 2020 and was replaced by Tyler Tumminia. She had a role overseeing four teams until March 2021, and the league rebranded as the Premier Hockey Federation several months later.

Rylan Kearney played college hockey at Northeastern University for two seasons from 2010-12.