Toronto Maple Leafs promote Hayley Wickenheiser to assistant GM

The Toronto Maple Leafs promoted Hayley Wickenheiser, the Canadian hockey icon who went on to complete medical school after her playing career, to assistant general manager as part of a series of front-office changes on Tuesday.

The team also elevated Ryan Hardy and Darryl Metcalf to the assistant general manager position while hiring Curtis Sanford as a goaltending coach.

The Maple Leafs said that Wickenheiser’s specific role would be serving as Assistant General Manager, Player Development.

Wickenheiser originally joined the organization as its assistant director of player development in August 2018 and was promoted to senior director of player development in May 2021.

The promotion marks the latest chapter in what has been a storied hockey life for Wickenheiser, who has been inducted into both the Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame for her success as a player.

Throughout her career, she earned seven World Championships and five Olympic medals.

Maple Leafs bring in new goalie coach

Sanford spent the past five seasons as goaltending coach with the Abbotsford Canucks and the Utica Comets, the AHL affiliates of the Vancouver Canucks.

Throughout his professional playing career, Sanford spent time in the KHL, AHL and NHL, where he played 144 regular-season games with St. Louis, Vancouver and Columbus.

The Maple Leafs and longtime former goalie coach, Steve Briere, parted ways last month.

Briere has since been hired by the Seattle Kraken, reuniting with former Maple Leafs assistant coach and current Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol.