Alison Izzi, newly appointed general manager of the Vancouver Goldeneyes, wasted no time in securing a key deal by signing American defenseman Caroline “KK” Harvey. This significant move marks the beginning of Izzi’s preparations for the upcoming season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League team.
Expressing her excitement for the upcoming training camps and the highly anticipated home opener against Seattle, Izzi emphasized the importance of gearing up fans, players, and staff for an electrifying opening night.
With a background in law and hockey operations, Izzi brings a wealth of experience from her time with the American Hockey League and the NHL. Transitioning to the women’s side of the sport, she sees her new role as a special opportunity to contribute to and elevate the women’s game.
One unique aspect of Izzi’s role is that she will be collaborating with her predecessor, Cara Gardner Morey, who stepped down as GM to become the team’s head coach. Izzi praised Morey’s coaching strengths and highlighted their complementary skills in coaching, hockey development, law, and hockey operations.
After narrowly missing the playoffs in their debut season, the Goldeneyes are aiming to make significant progress in their second season. With the first overall pick in the PWHL draft, the team selected Harvey, a standout player known for her exceptional performance at the University of Wisconsin and the 2026 Olympics.
While the team retained several key players, they bid farewell to star defender Claire Thompson, who retired to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery. Izzi acknowledged Thompson’s contribution to team culture and expressed the need to fill her role with new talent.
Currently, the Goldeneyes have 19 players under contract, including goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, who declined an invitation to Hockey Canada’s training camp ahead of the 2026 women’s world championships. Izzi remained noncommittal about Maschmeyer’s participation in the Goldeneyes’ training camp, indicating ongoing discussions with the goalie.
