In a historic moment for the world of hockey, Jessica Campbell made headlines as the first woman to serve as a full-time coach in the American Hockey League. Her journey to this groundbreaking position culminated in a preseason game between the Seattle Kraken and the Calgary Flames at Climate Pledge Arena, marking a significant milestone for women in the NHL.
Campbell, 31, had already blazed a trail as a coach when she became a full-time assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the minor-league affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, in July 2022. The Firebirds had a remarkable inaugural season, posting an impressive record of 48-17-5 and advancing to the AHL Finals, although they narrowly missed clinching the championship, losing to the Hershey Bears in a thrilling seven-game series.
Beyond her role with the Firebirds, Campbell also contributed her expertise to the Kraken's training camp, where her insights and creativity made a significant impact. Her journey from player to coach demonstrates a deep commitment to the sport she loves.
Reflecting on her historic appointment, Campbell expressed her gratitude, stating, "It's obviously a tremendous opportunity, and I'm honored to be where I am. It's really a humbling feeling to be part of the Kraken organization. I truly mean that."
Jessica Campbell's achievement is not the only one of its kind in the NHL. Kori Cheverie, a coach in the Professional Women's Hockey League, also made history by coaching in the NHL during the same weekend. She served as part of the coaching staff for the Pittsburgh Penguins' preseason game, adding to the growing list of women breaking barriers in the league. While women have previously been involved in various roles behind NHL benches, this weekend marked the first time they held coaching positions within the teams.
The players themselves recognize the value of having women coaches in the NHL. Forward Andrew Poturalski commented on Campbell's impact, saying, "She deserves being in the spotlight. She brings such a different side of things, and she's really creative and just brings a totally different perspective than what I've been used to. She's helped all of us forwards down there in Coachella, and especially on the power play. So it's really cool to be a part of that and have her behind the bench."
Jessica Campbell's journey in hockey began as a player with Cornell University's women's ice hockey team, where she had a memorable run to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2010. After her collegiate career, she played professionally for the Calgary Inferno in the Canadian Women's Hockey League and later for the Malmo Redhawks in the Swedish Women's Hockey League. Her international experience includes representing Canada at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship.
Transitioning from player to coach, Campbell gained valuable coaching experience with the Tri-City Storm of the U.S. Hockey League and the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany before ultimately finding her place with Coachella Valley.
