SEATTLE — The Seattle Torrent has completed its coaching staff for the 2026-27 Professional Women’s Hockey League season, hiring Brett Sonne as an assistant coach.
Following the team’s inaugural season, the Seattle Torrent parted ways with its head coach, Steve O’Rourke, and promoted former assistant coach Christine Bumstead to the helm.
Sonne joins Bumstead and assistant coach Stefanie McKeough behind the bench as the team prepares for its second season.
“We are excited to introduce him to Seattle,” General Manager Meghan Turner said in a statement, praising Sonne’s professional playing background and coaching experience.
The British Columbia native brings five seasons of junior hockey coaching experience. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League. Before that, he spent three seasons with the Ridge Meadows Flames, helping guide the team to its first league championship in 26 years during the 2023-24 season.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Torrent organization,” Sonne said. “I’m looking forward to building relationships with the players and staff and helping this team succeed.”
Before moving into coaching, Sonne enjoyed a lengthy professional playing career. He played four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen and was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2007 NHL Draft. He was named WHL Player of the Year in 2009 and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championship.
Sonne later spent four seasons in the American Hockey League, primarily with the Peoria Rivermen, before continuing his career overseas through 2019. He began coaching shortly after retiring from professional hockey.
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