Kraken Appoints Jessica Campbell as NHL’s First Female Coach

Jessica Campbell, 31 years old, made history with the aid of turning into the primary woman to employed as an NHL educate. She joined the Seattle Kraken as an assistant teach on Wednesday.

Jessica Campbell had previously worked as an assistant below Dan Bylsma, who appointed because the Kraken’s head teach on May 28. Before becoming a member of the NHL crew. She served as Bylsma’s assistant for 2 seasons with Seattle’s American Hockey League associate in Coachella Valley.

While we were in Coachella Valley, I personally witnessed Jessica’s dedication to developing players, Bylsma commented. Her skill relationships with her players, especially Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans, played a role in her hiring. I’m excited to keep working with her in the NHL.

Jessica Campbell joined a growing institution of girls education in the NHL whilst. She assisted Dan Bylsma for the duration of the Seattle Kraken’s preseason sport in opposition to the Calgary Flames on September 26, 2023.

This followed Kori Cheverie’s visitor training stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Previously, Jessica Campbell named the AHL’s first complete-time lady assistant teach by means of Coachella Valley on July four, 2022.

We employed her not due to the fact she’s a female. However due to the fact we accept as true with she’s a talented train, stated Kraken fashionable supervisor Ron Francis on May 28. Her history in skating and talent improvement, which she tested at Coachella Valley, impressed us significantly.

Jessica Campbell performed a key function within the Firebirds accomplishing the Calder Cup Final in their inaugural season of 2022-23, and once more the subsequent season. She carried out on-ice training periods all through Kraken education camps.

Additionally, Campbell made history as the first woman to coach at the 2022 IIHF World Championship. She had been serving as an assistant coach for Germany, which included Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer.

Reflecting on her journey, Campbell shared with the Kraken website on the day she hired by Coachella Valley. There was a moment when I realized I was coaching NHL players on our team and competing against NHL players. My input valued, and I felt respected. That’s when I knew I could succeed in this role.

Jessica Campbell started playing hockey as a child in Rocanville, Saskatchewan. Back then, there were no girls’ teams available, so she competed with and against boys. She later spent four seasons as a forward at Cornell University.

Professionally, Campbell played for Calgary in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and Malmo in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League. Her international experience includes skating for Canada, winning a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

After retiring from playing, Campbell began her coaching journey focusing on skating and skills development. This led her to coaching positions in various places, including Malmo, Sweden. Tri-City in the United States Hockey League, and Nurnberg in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as a coach in Kelowna, British Columbia, where she trained a group of NHL veterans. This group included defenseman Luke Schenn of the Nashville Predators. Which forward Tyson Jost from the Carolina Hurricanes, forward Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders, and former Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber.

I grew up dreaming of playing within the NHL because it is all I knew, Campbell shared. I by no means idea I’d be training at this level. I’ve simply focused on doing the paintings, and anywhere it leads me, it leads me. I’m honestly commemorated to be on this adventure and committed to doing what it takes to with any luck attain that goal.

On the equal day, the Kraken additionally appointed Bob Woods as an assistant educate.

This is a big day for our team, Francis remarked. We’re adding valuable training enjoy to our body of workers and consider both Bob and Jessica will at once make contributions to our achievement.

The Kraken, with a document of 34-35-3, brushed off educate Dave Hakstol on April 29 after failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They completed 6th inside the Pacific Division, following a preceding season. Where they reached the Western Conference Second Round but lost in seven games to the Dallas Stars.

Bylsma, returning to NHL coaching for the primary time since the 2016-17 season with the Buffalo Sabres. Which boasts a training file of 320 wins, one hundred ninety losses, and 55 beyond regular time losses in 565 NHL games. He led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup victory in 2009.