Sydney Sirens have announced Annelie Kvisle as the first woman in club history to be named head coach of the team for the 2025/26 Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) season.
Kvisle, will take control of the Sirens bench replacing Jayden Ryan, and will be accompanied by assistant coach Amelia Matheson in a landmark moment.
A former Siren herself, Kvisle recently coached the New South Wales (NSW) state women’s team in the Stephanie Boxall tournament.
Furthermore, Kvisle was performance coach in 2023/24 and assistant coach of the Sirens during the 2024/25 seasons.
“Coaching wasn’t on my agenda, not going to lie, it was never something I aspired to do,” Kvisle told andrewkmacdougall.com.au
“But I kind of got pulled into it two years ago as the performance coach with Gabe [Robledo].
“And I just really loved being back around the team, and being a part of it all, in that limited capacity.”
Kvisle has built a strong ice hockey resume post playing career, trainer for the Sydney Ice Dogs in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), which continued to performance coach at the Sirens.
Kvisle was promoted to assistant coach at the Sirens prior to the 2024/25 season, a role they thoroughly enjoyed and thrived in.
“Then that [around the team] obviously developed into being the assistant coach last year, which I thoroughly enjoyed,” said Kvisle.
“Having that little bit more responsibility and obviously following on from Boxall and that head coaching role and wanted to sort of continue on that same trajectory.
“I put my hand up, and yeah, super excited to work with the team and to build on what has been built and more.”
Steeped in history
Kvisle and the Sirens history dates back to the very origins of the AWIHL, during what was called a “Showcase Series’’.
Round robin style tournaments that were held across five months, with four teams competing, eventually expanding as success continued.
There is a strong and connected history between not only Kvisle and the Sirens, but the AWIHL as well.
“I started playing with the Sirens, right out of when it was a showcase series, in the early years, and then the transition into the AWIHL,” continued Kvisle.
“And then saw the transition of the Joan McKowen Trophy as a national championship trophy, and the trophy you won at the end of the national league [AWIHL] season.
“Played a long time with the girls, injury put me out in about 2012, injured my shoulder, then got married and started a family.
“Went back and played in the tier two series that they had running for a little while and just fell straight back in love with the competitiveness of the hockey and women’s hockey.
“Saw the Sirens win their first gold medal at Canterbury Ice Rink and was like ‘yep, I want to be back a part of that’.
“The following year I tried out again and made the team, and did another two seasons, but unfortunately injured my shoulder again in the grand final at the end of the 2018/19 season I think it was.
“Haven’t been back, had my son, and that is sort of the playing history with the Sirens.”
Growing up together
There is a special connection between players, fans and the AWIHL clubs they play for and support.
Sport plays and important role in society, building places people can find connection and community.
As a result, the impact of the Sirens on Kvisle is noticeable, helping guide the new head coach through those late teenage years.
When asked about the what the Sirens mean to them, there was a sense of deep importance and emotion for the journey.
“Oh, so much [meaning],” said Kvisle with a glowing smile.
“I have made lifelong friends out of the Sirens, it was big part of my late teenage years, obviously they can be tough.
“I had such a good support network with the Sirens, I had phenomenal coaches throughout that time that were really supportive.
“I was never a first, second line player. I was always sort of third line, fourth line, benchwarmer or grinder. I really had to fight for my space on that team.
“But I think it taught me valuable life skills in terms of teamwork and leadership, resilience and friendship, so many things.
“That team has been a phenomenal part of my life through my late teens early twenties.”
Rolling the sleeves up
There is no waiting or honeymoon period for Kvisle, the job starts straight away in preparation for the 2025/26 AWIHL season.
Finding ice rinks to hold try-outs and building towards the opening game of the season against the new kids on the block, Melbourne Ducks.
However, it just isn’t the local players which is the focus, discussions with imports have already started.
Once the playing roster is finalised, it will be full steam ahead for Kvisle and the three-time Joan McKowen Trophy winners.
“So, [coaching] hat is on now, definitely on,” continued Kvisle.
“We are just sort of doing a bit behind the scenes, we have try-outs announced for mid to late next month [September 21].
“Unfortunately, with the lack of ice rinks we are very limited with ice availability to run those try-outs.
“Obviously we are having conversations with a few import players and trying to get some talent to boost the lineup.
“However, I’m not concerned so much, because I feel like last season, we were a competitive team with who we had.
“If you look at our results, we actually had the most success against the Melbourne Ice and they went ahead and won it.
“With our local talent we are very fortunate in NSW and to incorporate the ACT girls.”
Laying down the blueprint
Returning the Sirens to finals will be in the minds of Sydney fans heading into the season.
Expansion and the arrival of the Ducks changes things for the AWIHL, it’s teams and fighting for a place at finals weekend.
However, no high benchmarks are set but being competitive and an exciting hockey team is on the agenda.
“At the end of the day you want to be competitive,” said Kvisle.
“We want to be challenging every team we play against; we want to be very much in finals contention. That would be the ultimate goal.
“I do have to remind myself though, sometimes you have got be a little bit more realistic and see what you are working with before you can set those goals.
“Based on last year and what I assume the team will look like this year, I would love to be in finals contention.
“Just be a force to be reckoned with, I want to be a strong and an exciting team to watch.”
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