Christine Bumstead

Christine Bumstead was named the new head coach of the Seattle Torrent, a team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, ahead of the 2026-2027 regular season.

Bumstead previously earned a deaf/hard of hearing education graduate certificate from Minot State.

Bumstead previously worked for the team as the assistant coach in their inaugural 2025-2026 season under then head coach Steve O’Rourke.

“Season one in Seattle was special, and I am humbled and honored to continue building on it,” said Bumstead in a release put out by the team. “I believe Seattle is the best city in the world for women’s sports. Our fans showed up night in and night out, and it has been a privilege to be on the bench representing them. I am beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead this organization. Thank you to Meghan and the players for believing in me and for pushing me to be a better coach every single day. Long before I was a part of the league, I was inspired by what the PWHL is building, and so I do not take this opportunity lightly; I feel incredibly fortunate to play a role in sparking dreams for the next generation of players. The best is still ahead for Seattle Torrent hockey, and we can’t wait to continue growing.”

Bumstead previously served as head coach for Canada’s women’s team at the 2024 World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship and worked for four years as assistant coach for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s team. She also made history in 2023 working as the first female coach for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.

“Christine brings a valuable combination of hockey expertise, leadership presence, and an unwavering commitment to high standards,” said Meghan Turner, Torrent General Manager in the team’s release. “Her unique background in education and diverse coaching resume, combined with a strong natural ability to build trust and meaningful connections, make her well-suited to lead our team. I’m confident that Christine’s vision and style will set us on the right path as we build into our second season and strive toward our goal of bringing the Walter Cup home to Seattle.”