Jessica Campbell makes history by becoming the first female assistant coach in the NHL

CNN
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Jessica Campbell made history on the opening night of the National Hockey League (NHL) season by becoming the league's first female assistant coach.

Campbell was on the bench Tuesday as the Seattle Kraken took on the St. Louis Blues at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

The 32-year-old was appointed assistant coach by new head coach Dan Bylsma in July. The duo previously trained together with a Kraken minor league team.

“The coming year will be a lot of fun. But knowing and understanding that obviously the thoughts of other women and other people who have the same ambitions as me are still at the forefront,” she told NHL.com. “So, carrying that torch forward every day and continuing to focus on the job as a coach, but it definitely gives the job meaning.”

At the start of the season, it was business as usual for the historic Campbell.

“Similar to riding a bike,” the coach told ESPN after the opening period. “I've been doing this for a while now but the emotions, the excitement and the energy is definitely just the start of a new year, I'm feeling it all.”

Campbell's resume speaks for itself as she enters her first season as an NHL coach.

As a player, the Kraken's new assistant coach won the U18 Women's World Championship in 2010 after winning silver the year before. Campbell also won silver at the 2015 Women's World Championships.

The Canadian became coach of the Kraken's minor league affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, in 2022 under head coach Bylsma.

During her time with the Firebirds, Campbell became the first female coach in the American Hockey League.

“Two years ago she was a young coach. She needed to grow and improve as a coach, and I think our relationship was just that,” Bylsma told NHL.com about their time together. “I probably challenged them a few times to do things differently or think about things differently. But at the same time, knowingly or unknowingly, she also challenged me as a coach to make sure I was the coach I wanted to be.

“So getting the opportunity in the NHL is because I believe in the skills and characteristics that it gives to the individual players and that she can give them to them and help them, in their place, in their own personal way and Way to get better.” Team way.”