Aarif Deen
Colorado Eagles assistant coach Kim Weiss departed the organization on Monday to accept a job as the head coach of the new Las Vegas PWHL expansion team.
The Eagles, which are the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, will begin their search for the next coach to join head coach Mark Letestu’s staff.
Weiss, 37, became one of the first female NHL or AHL assistant coaches behind the bench. She began her Eagles tenure as a video assistant before getting the promotion last summer. In her one year as an assistant, Weiss helped the Eagles to get within one win of the Calder Cup Final.
The Eagles fell to the Chicago Wolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final earlier in the week. Weiss and the Eagles also made the postseason in 2025 when she served as video assistant on coach Aaron Schneekloth’s staff.
The PWHL was founded in August 2023 as the women’s highest level of hockey in North America. Over the last three years, the league has successfully grown, recently announcing new expansion teams in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton to grow the league to 12 teams for the upcoming season.
The new Las Vegas team will play out of T-Mobile Arena, joining the Vegas Golden Knights as tenants.
“It’s an honor to become a head coach at the highest level of the women’s game, and I couldn’t be more excited to join PWHL Las Vegas,” Weiss said in a team release. “Much of what I’ve experienced over the last few years wasn’t something I dreamed about growing up because those opportunities simply didn’t exist. I’m incredibly grateful for the people and organizations that have helped me along the way, especially the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles. I’ll carry many of the lessons I learned from one of the best organizations in hockey as we build a first-class environment for our players, staff, and fans in Las Vegas.
“Las Vegas has embraced hockey in a remarkable way and built a passionate sports culture. The city is known for its energy, excitement, and entertainment, and we’re committed to bringing that same passion every time our team takes the ice. I can’t wait to help build something special for this community.”