Seattle Torrent Add Brett Sonne to Complete Coaching Staff

Seattle has its bench staff. The Torrent announced Thursday that Brett Sonne has joined the club as an assistant coach ahead of the 2026-27 PWHL season, rounding out a staff that already included head coach Christine Bumstead and assistant Stefanie McKeough after both were hired this offseason.

Sonne, a native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, arrives with five seasons of junior coaching experience. He spent 2024 to 2026 as an assistant with the BCHL's Coquitlam Express, where his areas of focus were faceoffs, power play execution and 6-on-5 offensive situations. Before that he spent three seasons with the Ridge Meadows Flames of the Pacific Junior Hockey League, a run that included the club's first league title in 26 years in 2023-24.

"Brett's professional playing career and coaching experience will be great complements to the new identity of our coaching staff," Torrent general manager Meghan Turner said. "He brings a high level of professionalism and a valuable firsthand perspective that will elevate our athletes' development and help us compete to win in our second season."

The playing resume is substantial. Sonne played four major junior seasons with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen and was a third-round pick of the St. Louis Blues, 85th overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft. He was named WHL Player of the Year in 2009 and won gold with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship. He played four AHL seasons from 2009 to 2013, mostly with the Peoria Rivermen, then continued professionally overseas through 2019 before turning to coaching.

"I'm looking forward to building relationships with the players and staff, contributing to a high-performance environment, and doing everything I can to help this team succeed," Sonne said. "I'm also excited to become part of the Seattle community and experience the passion of our fans."

Seattle is entering its second PWHL season.