Saskatchewan's Jessica Campbell hired by NHL's Seattle Kraken
The 32-year-old Campbell becomes the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history
Published Jul 03, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read
Saskatchewan’s Jessica Campbell has made history by becoming the first female assistant coach in NHL history.
On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken announced that the 32-year-old — who spent time growing up in Rocanville and Melville — has been named to Dan Bylsma’s coaching staff for the 2024-25 season.
For the past two seasons, Campbell was an assistant coach with Seattle’s American Hockey League affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds, where she worked alongside Bylsma, who was promoted to head coach of the Kraken earlier this off-season.
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“During our tenure in Coachella Valley, I saw firsthand Jessica’s commitment to player development,” Bylsma said in a release. “Her ability to establish relationships with her players, specifically Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans, was an important factor in this hire.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her at the NHL level.”
“She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team.”
When Campbell joined the Firebirds during their inaugural season in 2022-23, she became the first female to be behind the bench in AHL history.
Prior to that, she spent time as an assistant coach and skills coach in Germany with the Nurnberg Ice Tigers, while also serving as an assistant for Germany’s national men’s team at the 2022 world championships, where she became the first female to be behind the bench at men’s worlds.
Campbell got her start in coaching as an assistant with the Pursuit of Excellence’s women’s under-18 team in Kelowna for two seasons from 2017 to 2019.
She was an assistant coach with the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s under-18 women’s team for one season in 2019-20 before the pandemic hit.
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During the pandemic, Campbell served as a power skating and skills coach for several NHL players who sought out her training, JC Powerskating, in Kelowna. She was also the skating coach for the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden’s professional league in 2020-21.
Before getting into coaching, Campbell suited up for the Rocanville Jr. Tigers in minor hockey before playing for the Melville Prairie Fire in the Saskatchewan Female AAA Hockey League.
She went on to play two seasons with the Pursuit of Excellence squad, while also suiting up for Team Canada’s under-18 women’s team, captaining the team to a gold medal at worlds in 2010.
Campbell attended Cornell University from 2010 to 2014, captaining the women’s hockey team in her final season, finishing off with 100 points in 131 career NCAA games.
She played three seasons for the Calgary Inferno in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League from 2014 to 2017, while also suiting up for the Canadian women’s national team in 2014 for the 4 Nations Cup before winning a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World Women’s Championship.
Meanwhile, the Kraken also hired veteran assistant coach Bob Woods, a Leroy, Sask. product who played with the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks and WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings prior to a lengthy minor pro career.
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The 56-year-old, who also had a stint coaching the Saskatoon Blades from 2014 to 2016, has been an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild for the last seven years.
“This is an important day for our organization,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a release. “We’re bringing in valuable coaching experience to our staff and are confident that both Bob and Jessica will make an immediate impact for our team.”
Rounding out Seattle’s coaching staff is returning assistant Dave Lowry and goalie coach Steve Briere.
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