SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken have named Jessica Campbell as the assistant coach of the team, making her the first-ever female full-time coach behind the bench in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Although Campbell said her focus is on the work she is doing and said there are several other women doing notable work in the NHL, she recognizes the significance of this moment.
"I think it's really important to recognize just how it's going to hopefully transform the landscape and allow different people in different organizations," said Campbell. "Seattle is a special one, this is a really special place."
Campbell, 32, spent two seasons with Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken’s minor league team in the American Hockey League (AHL), alongside Dan Bylsma, who was recently named the Kraken's new head coach.
“This is an important day for our organization,” said Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis in a team release. “We’re bringing in valuable coaching experience to our staff and are confident that both Bob and Jessica will make an immediate impact for our team.”
In May, the Associated Press reported Campbell was a possible candidate for a position within the Seattle team.
She became the first female full-time assistant coach in the AHL when she was hired by the team in July 2022.
Prior to joining the Firebirds, Campbell was the first woman to join the coaching staff of a national team in the World Championship when she was the assistant coach for Germany in the IIHF Men’s World Championship.
She hopes when young Kraken fans see her behind the bench at games, they know they can do anything they believe in. Although she may be the first woman in her role, she hopes to not be the last.
"Believe it, even if you don't see it, because it is possible,” said Campbell. “I hope that this has proved that it's possible. And I'm excited to be able to meet the young kids along the way and be an example for them to chase the dreams, however big or bold they are to anyone."
Campbell, who is from Saskatchewan, played three seasons in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and won the Clarkson Cup in 2016. She also played four years at Cornell University, where she was captain her senior year.
She represented Canada in two U-18 World Junior Championships and in 2010, she scored the goal medal-winning goal, according to her Firebirds biography.
Bylsma and Campbell will have a pair of high-value free agents to work with in their first season, as the Kraken agreed to contracts with reigning Stanley Cup champion Brandon Montour and former Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson on Monday.
KING 5 asked Campbell if she thinks the Kraken could make a run at the playoffs again this upcoming season, after falling short this year.
"There's a lot of skill, there's a lot of depth," said Campbell. "I think that the team is going to be hungry to get back to that same spot and potentially achieve more."