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    • Kraken’s Jessica Campbell makes her debut as the first female NHL coach
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    Kraken’s Jessica Campbell makes her debut as the first female NHL coach

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

    Jessica Campbell is in a league of her own.

    The Seattle Kraken hired Campbell as an assistant coach in July, making her the first female full-time assistant coach behind the bench in NHL history. Campbell received applause when she was introduced at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday as she took her place in the Kraken’s season opener against the St. Louis Blues in Seattle.

    The historic moment was not lost on Campbell.

    “The moment before the game and walking on the bench… I’m really going to try to honor it because I definitely know and understand that the magnitude and significance of that moment is really important to our game,” Campbell said before the Game.

    Campbell prepared the play on the bench as Seattle tried to tie the game, but they ultimately lost to the Blues 3-2. Head coach Dan Bylsma pointed out the bright spot: “Jessica is a female coach in the NHL for the first time, which is great for her and great for the game.”

    Campbell described Tuesday as “a normal day in terms of my work” but noted the importance of her new role.

    “It’s just a normal day for me as far as my work, my routine and all those aspects,” Campbell said. “I never want to neglect the things I do because I’m so focused on the task at hand, but I also know that focusing on the task at hand is what allowed me to reach this moment and that I too will continue. That’s why I have to concentrate on what’s important, namely the boys and the team and the success we want to have.”

    Campbell, 32, made a similar story in the American Hockey League when Bylsma hired her as an assistant coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022. Bylsma, a former Stanley Cup winner, brought Campbell with him to the NHL after he was named Kraken coach in May.

    Coachella Valley has had success with Bylsma and Campbell, reaching the AHL’s Calder Cup Final the last two seasons. Before coming to Coachella Valley, Campbell served as an assistant coach and skills coach for the Nuremberg Ice Tigers in Germany’s top professional men’s league during the 2021-22 season. She was also an assistant coach for Germany at the 2022 World Cup.

    “Hopefully it will hold a door open for someone else instead of pushing it open and finding ways to unlock it,” Campbell said. “I look at the other women around me and other people in the industry who are contributing and doing a fantastic job. And it’s part of a movement. I think it’s part of a really important change. Whenever there are different people in the room, different and good results are achieved. You get unique results. Problems are solved differently and I think that’s how you get ahead in life and in sport.”

    Campbell played at Cornell University from 2010 to 2014 and led the team her senior year. She played professionally in Canada and Sweden and was MVP of the 2010 U18 World Championships when Canada won gold.

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    Madoc Meredith
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