After her playing career ended, Jessica Campbell discovered a new passion in coaching.
Little did she know at the time that it would eventually lead her to the NHL, making her the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise.
“I’ve always had the courage to believe that this is possible, even if I didn’t see it at the time. I believed I could do it,” Campbell said. “And I think with that inner belief, whether in sport or in life, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.”
Campbell was recently hired as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken, breaking grounds as the first woman to hold an on-the-bench role as an assistant or associate coach in NHL history.
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Having spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for Seattle’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley alongside Dan Bylsma, who was recently named the head coach for the Kraken, there were speculations about Campbell making the move.
She made the move and in doing so, shattered another barrier for women in hockey. Emily Engel-Natzke already made history by being hired as a video coach for the Washington Capitals in 2022.
Now, with Campbell on the bench, the landscape is changing.
“I’m honored to be in this position and being labeled as the ‘first,’ although my focus has always been on the work, the impact, and the job itself. There’s a lot that comes with this role and I never take it for granted,” Campbell stated.
“I believe that if the team succeeds and I can make a positive impact, it could potentially open doors for others and change perceptions.”
Campbell had an impressive playing career in the NCAA, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and Canada’s women’s national team, where she won silver at the 2015 World Championship.
Aside from a brief period with the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden in 2019-20, she retired in 2017 and became highly respected as a skating coach before joining Coachella Valley in 2022. Campbell also served as an assistant coach for Germany during the 2022 IIHF World Championships.
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It was during her time running her own business as a skating and skill-development coach that Campbell started to consider coaching in the NHL as a realistic goal. She specifically mentioned her work with Brent Seabrook during his injury recovery as a turning point.
“I realized that coaching was my calling. These players were showing up to my sessions in high numbers, and I felt the desire to pursue coaching in a different capacity, behind the bench. I found that what I was teaching and working on with them was making a significant impact,” Campbell explained.
Originally from Rocanville, Saskatchewan, the 32-year-old became the first full-time female assistant coach in the AHL when she joined Coachella Valley. She also briefly served as an assistant on the Kraken bench for a preseason game against Calgary last September.
Bylsma recognized Campbell’s influence on developing key players for the Kraken like Ryker Evans, Shane Wright, and Tye Kartye during her time at Coachella Valley, which prompted him to bring her to the NHL level.
“Tye Kartye put in the work, and it’s all on him, but Jessica’s guidance has been crucial. She has shown growth and expertise over the past two years, which makes me excited for her opportunity at the NHL level,” Bylsma stated.
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Having a female coach on the bench is an area where the NHL has lagged behind other major sports leagues like the NBA, MLB, and NFL.
The NHL Coaches Association launched a Female Coaches Development Program in 2021 to expand the pool of qualified candidates.
Even before entering the league, the Kraken were already at the forefront of providing opportunities for women in hockey operations. Assistant general manager Alexandra Mandrycky was one of the franchise’s initial front-office hires in 2018, serving as the director of hockey administration and playing a role in the general manager selection process that led to hiring Ron Francis.
Namita Nandakumar was brought in as a senior analyst in hockey operations in 2020.
Seattle also appointed Hall of Famer Cammi Granato as a pro scout in 2019 before she transitioned to an assistant GM role with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022.
In addition to Campbell, the Kraken named Bob Woods as one of Bylsma’s assistants, filling out the coaching staff alongside assistant coach Dave Lowry, goaltending coach Steve Briere, video coach Tim Ohashi, and video assistant Brady Morgan.
