PWHL hires AHL executive Melissa Caruso to fill Minnesota GM vacancy

The Professional Women's Hockey League on Tuesday announced the hiring of AHL executive Melissa Caruso to take over as general manager of its Minnesota franchise and shore up a team that dealt with several crises in the weeks after winning the league's inaugural championship.

From St. Paul, Minn., Caruso spent 15 years with the American Hockey League, including the past six as vice president of hockey operations and governance. She was responsible for overseeing the league's schedule, player registry and bylaws, while working with the board of governors.

"Her strong background in operations and governance, combined with her extensive hockey knowledge and leadership experience, make her a great fit for the role," PWHL vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said in a PWHL release. "Melissa's passion for the game, along with her ties to the local community positions her perfectly to lead the team both on and off the ice."

The long-awaited hiring comes as the PWHL prepares to open its second season in December.

Caruso replaces former U.S. Olympian Natalie Darwitz, who was removed by the league in June following a months-long review and mere weeks after Minnesota clinched the Walter Cup in a decisive fifth game. Hefford did not reveal the findings of the league's review, which included input from players, staff and team partners, in saying the feedback was clear a change was required.

The troubles in Minnesota didn't end there and with coach Ken Klee overseeing personnel decisions and the draft on an interim basis.

At the draft on June 10, Klee was questioned for using a second-round pick to select Britta Curl, who had drawn criticism from the women's hockey and LGBTQ+ communities for supporting transphobic