New PWHL Seattle GM Meghan Turner Is Building More Than a Hockey Team, She’s Building a Culture
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - When Meghan Turner was named the inaugural general manager of PWHL Seattle on May 21st, 2025, she stepped into a rare opportunity: building a team from scratch in one of the most passionate sports cities in North America. From day one, Turner has made one thing clear - this team will be rooted in leadership, communication, and a strong sense of identity.
“Obviously, cultural fit is number one,” Turner said during a virtual press availability on May 30th. “And like I said, the leadership group.”
A native of Bedford, New Hampshire, Turner began playing hockey at the age of four. She played collegiate hockey at Quinnipiac University from 2013 to 2017, where she was a forward for the Bobcats. In her senior year, she tallied 22 points and maintained a +17 rating, ranking third on the team. After college, she played professionally for the Worcester Blades in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) and later joined the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), where she played for approximately four seasons.
Turner’s venture into hockey management began with the Boston Fleet, where she served as assistant general manager for two seasons. Working under GM Danielle Marmer, a former Quinnipiac teammate, Turner played a pivotal role in building the Fleet’s inaugural roster.
“I feel like I have a good sense of what it takes to succeed in this League,” she said. “I think that's both, you know, physically on the ice, and mentally, and being able to be adaptable… I have a lot of good lessons learned from that that I can take into this process in terms of building out the team and also building out the staff and the organization and the culture.”
For Turner, building a new team is like solving a puzzle.
“There are obviously different roles for different players on the team. You see it in this league and elsewhere. Sometimes a goalie is a number one, and with a clear backup. Sometimes they're splitting, right? There's, you know, 12 or 13 spots in the forward end, or 6 or 7 spots in the defensive end, and all of those spots are going to get different playing times, play different roles, special teams and things of that nature.”
That complexity means identity and chemistry matter just as much as raw skill.
“Making sure that we're getting people and players to buy in, to obviously what the organization is all about from a cultural perspective, but to what the role is that they play and what their strengths are that they can truly bring to the team… That might look a little bit different than what they've had in the past.”
In Turner’s eyes, the best teams are those that adapt and evolve together.
“The competition is so great in this league that every year you might have to change your mindset a little bit… sometimes have to redefine your game or reinvent yourself in a way. So yeah, it's certainly a puzzle. And finding who fits well - chemistry with players, coaches - but also just within the lineup in terms of what's asked of them.”
Her hockey philosophy is also shaped by her time with the Fleet. “I'm from Boston. And so I am partial to physicality, and I think it's an important part of the game in this League… playing through physicality and being able to make plays with very minimal time, knowing that you know, someone's going to probably play the body and look to take the puck away.”
That physical identity is something she hopes to bring to Seattle.
“Certainly leaning into the physicality nature of it - controlled physicality, certainly - but speed, and playing well off the puck,” Turner said. “I really want to lean into being able to create a team that has speed and can create speed out of the D zone through the neutral zone and create some space with the opposing defense, to be able to play some sustained offense.”
Outside of hockey, Turner earned an MBA from Quinnipiac and worked as a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), advising Fortune 500 companies on operational strategy and organizational change. Her six years in consulting, along with her service in the Army National Guard, reflect a commitment to leadership and discipline that extend beyond the rink.
“It's all about staffing and finding the right people to deliver on that project, creating a good plan, and then executing.”
Looking ahead, Turner is excited to connect the team to the community from day one.
“I'm really excited to be able to, you know, work closely with the business, be out in the community, create those relationships… give the players space to create their relationships and their own kind of personal brands within the community as well.”
As someone who’s played at a high level, she also understands the energy fans bring to the rink.
“Sometimes you come out to a rink, that is, you know, it's one of the biggest games of your life, and there weren't that many supporters there… and it's sometimes difficult to get on the ice and see those empty stands.”
That’s why the growing audience around the PWHL feels so special.
“I think it's truly amazing what this League has been able to do… really get people to the rink, create a community that doesn't always look like the typical hockey community that we're used to… It jazzes up the players when you walk into a building that's full. Back to Detroit, I think was my first… maybe neutral site game or takeover tour from last year, and just seeing the whole bowl full, was kind of a pinch-me moment, and really incredible.”
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