Jessica Campbell continues to write history. When the puck dropped on the opening game of the 2024-2025 NHL season between the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues, Campbell officially became the first woman in history to serve as a full-time on-bench coach in the NHL.
“The year ahead is going to be a lot of fun. But to know and to understand that obviously there’s still at the forefront the thoughts of other women and other people who have the same aspirations as I do,” Campbell told NHL.com. “So, to carry that torch every day and keep my focus on being a coach, but it definitely puts meaning into the work.”
Campbell spent the past two seasons as a top assistant for the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
When former Coachella Valley head coach Dan Bylsma was promoted to head coach of the Seattle Kraken in July, he quickly brought Campbell on board as an assistant at the NHL level.
“Jessica and I spent the last two years coaching in Coachella Valley,” said Seattle head coach Dan Bylsma. “I’m confident of what she can do for our staff and bring to the players. I watched her build strong relationships with prospects such as Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans. She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team. She’s demonstrated that over the last two seasons, not just with Tye Kartye and the others, but [veteran leaders] John Hayden and Max McCormick, among others. That’s why she is such an appealing candidate and why she’s joining our staff.”
Campbell joins a growing group of women working to level coaching and management jobs in the NHL, a list that also includes several assistant general managers including Cammi Granato and Hayley Wickenheiser.
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