PWHL Minnesota hires Ken Klee as head coach after Charlie Burggraf steps down

The first coaching change of the PWHL is official as Minnesota has named former NHLer Ken Klee as its new head coach after Charlie Burggraf stepped down, the league announced Wednesday.

Ken Klee is a former NHL defenceman who coached the U.S. Women's National Team to back-to-back gold medals at the 2015 and 2016 IIHF Women's World Championships.

"Ken Klee brings a proven record of success to our coaching staff," PWHL Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitz said in a league statement. "We are extremely pleased — for our players, our fans and our organization — that he has joined us."

Along with the gold medals at the World Championships, he also led the women's national team to victory at the Four Nations Cup in 2015 and 2016 and first-place finishes at the under-22 selects series in 2014 and 2015.

"The hockey energy in Minnesota is just fantastic, and I'm delighted to be part of it," Klee said in the statement. "This position provides a terrific opportunity to coach outstanding players who represent the top level of professionalism and to connect with a first-rate hockey community. I can't wait to get started."

Burggraf was named the inaugural head coach of the team on Sept. 15.

"My family and I have decided that stepping away from the head coaching position at Team Minnesota is the right move for us at this time," Burggraf said in the statement. "I wish both the PWHL, and especially Team Minnesota, great success."

A Minnesota native, Burggraf was an assistant for the University of Minnesota women's Golden Gophers for four years and helped lead the team to their National Championship in 2015.

He later coached at Bethel University, an NCAA Division II team, for both their women's and men's teams.

Minnesota's inaugural season starts Jan. 3 against Boston.