VANCOUVER — Cara Gardner Morey is transitioning from general manager to head coach of the Vancouver Goldeneyes after serving in the front-office role during the club’s inaugural season in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Gardner Morey returns to the bench after spending eight seasons as head coach of Princeton’s women’s hockey team before taking the Vancouver GM job last year.
The 47-year-old from Hensall, Ont., replaces Brian Idalski, who was fired after Vancouver finished sixth in the eight-team league with a 9-3-4-14 record and missed the playoffs.
The Goldeneyes said the league will lead the search for a new general manager.
Gardner Morey helped the Princeton Tigers win an Ivy League championship, qualify for two NCAA quarterfinals and set a single-season record for wins (26).
She said she’s excited to return to coaching.
“Over the course of the off-season, I spent a lot of time reflecting and discussing what was best for our team and for me personally. Through that process, I realized how much I missed being behind the bench,” she said in a statement. “While I continue to be incredibly proud of what we built in Vancouver during our inaugural season, coaching is where I know I can make the biggest impact. To have the opportunity to coach the roster we’ve assembled is an incredible privilege, and I can’t wait for us to take the ice later this year.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2026.
The Canadian Press
