Jessica Campbell joins the Seattle Kraken staff, becoming the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history.
On Wednesday, Jessica Campbell made history when the Seattle Kraken announced that she will be the first female assistant coach in National Hockey League (NHL) history to work full-time.
It was on Wednesday. With the addition of Bob Woods to her coaching staff, Campbell became the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history to man the bench during a regular season. Campbell, the Kraken, and the NHL were all part of history at that time.
The 32-year-old became a part of the organization in 2022, working as an assistant coach for the minor league Seattle team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). She now receives the same opportunity in the NHL as she did in the AHL, where she was the first woman hired to a full-time assistant coaching position.
Campbell described herself as “humbled” by the assignment. She reportedly said, “You speak to the word first, to be the first,” according to the NHL. However, I never really focus on it; instead, I’m always thinking about the work, the impact, and the job itself. I’ve never taken this game or my work for granted because there’s a lot to it.
“Although it is an honor to be the first, I genuinely don’t feel alone in this organization, and I don’t want to be the only one. Being a member of the Seattle Kraken organization and staff, as well as supporting all the other outstanding women in our league who may not be on the bench, is a very unique feeling.
Dan Bylsma, the new head coach of the Krakens, said, “Jessica and I spent the last two years coaching in Coachella Valley.” “I have faith in her abilities to benefit our staff and players.”I saw her cultivate enduring bonds with players like Shane Wright, Ryker Evans, and Tye Kartye. She can relate to athletes on a personal level regarding their contributions to the team and their games.
After a disastrous campaign in which they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kraken are hoping to turn things around. Campbell was a forward in college who played professionally in Sweden and Canada for the Cornell Big Red.
After retirement, she continued to coach the Firebirds under Bylsma, helping the team to consecutive appearances in the AHL championship series known as the Calder Cup.
The creator of Canadian history is a part of broader transformations occurring behind Seattle benches. After the Kraken concluded the previous season with a 34-35-13 record and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bylsma was appointed head coach in May, taking Dave Hakstol’s place.
Alongside Campbell, who was hired for the same role, was experienced assistant coach Bob Woods, who had served for 11 years.
The NHL’s newest team, the Kraken, was established as an expansion team and will play in the 2021–2022 season. In its brief existence, Seattle has only made it to the playoffs once, defeating the reigning champion Colorado Avalanche in the opening round before falling to the Dallas Stars in seven games during the 2022–2023 campaign.