Toronto PWHL GM Gina Kingsbury to oversee Canadian women's hockey team through 2026

Gina Kingsbury has returned to Hockey Canada to oversee the national women's team through the 2026 Olympic Games while also managing Toronto's club in the new Professional Women's Hockey League.

Hockey Canada announced Sunday the two-time Olympic gold medallist in women's hockey from Rouyn-Noranda, Que., will hold dual jobs.

She'd departed the national governing body of hockey in September for the PWHL.

Troy Ryan of Spryfield, N.S., will coach both the national team and Toronto's PWHL club.

Hockey Canada announced in 2022 a four-year extension for Ryan through the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.

The duo will continue to lead the Canadian women through world championships and the Rivalry Series against the United States. This year's seven-game Rivalry Series opens Wednesday in Tempe, Ariz., and Saturday in Los Angeles.

"I am excited to return to the national women's team and continue to work toward our collective goal of winning gold medals at the world championship and Olympics," Kingsbury said Sunday in a statement. "While my role will look a little different than before, I continue to have the same amount of pride in wearing the Maple Leaf and I remain committed to helping build a team that Canadians can be proud to support over the next three seasons."

Kingsbury and Ryan steered Canada to back-to-back world titles in 2021 and 2022 and an Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2022.

The Canadians lost their world title in the 2023 final to the United States in Brampton, Ont. The 2024 women's world championship April 3-14 will be played in Utica, N.Y.

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The six-team PWHL, with Canadian clubs in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, is set to begin regular-season