Seattle Kraken make NHL history with Jessica Campbell hire

Sports history was made on Wednesday afternoon. The Seattle Kraken announced they hired the first woman to be a coach on an NHL coaching staff.

The Kraken announced that Jessica Campbell would join the team as an assistant coach. Campbell joined the Kraken’s coaching staff after a successful stint in the AHL, where she also made a similar history as an AHL coaching staff member.

“The Seattle Kraken have added Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach, making her the first woman to be named an assistant, associate, or head coach in NHL history,” the league’s X account posted on Wednesday afternoon.

“Campbell came on board with the Firebirds during the 2022-23 inaugural season to be a vital part of the AHL’s Calder Cup Final as the first woman to be an assistant coach in the AHL,” the Kraken wrote on their official website . The post on their website says Campbell “caught the attention of pro hockey coaching circles as an assistant coach for Germany at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship.” Since then, she has been on an apparent upward trajectory.

New head coach Dan Bylsma had nothing but great things to say about her. “She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team,” he said via the post.

Congrats to Jessica Campbell on making sports history! The team’s opener against the St. Louis Blues just became that much more exciting.

[ Kraken.com ]

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