The Seattle Kraken made a historic move on Wednesday with the signing of Jessica Campbell.
The Kraken hired Campbell as a full-time assistant coach, making her the first woman to hold the position in NHL history. The move was largely expected after her run with their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, where she was also the first woman behind a bench in that league’s history.
Campbell was one of two coaches hired by new head coach Dan Bylsma on Wednesday. The Kraken also brought in assistant Bob Woods, who has been in the league for more than a decade.
“Jessica and I have coached in the Coachella Valley for the past two years,” Bylsma. “I have confidence in what she can bring to our staff and what she can offer the players. I’ve seen her build strong relationships with prospects like Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans. She has the ability to relate to players about their game and what they bring to the team. She’s shown that over the past two seasons, not only with Tye Kartye and the others, but [veteran leaders] John Hayden and Max McCormick, among others. That is why she is such an attractive candidate and why she is joining our team.”
Campbell herself played four seasons collegiately at Cornell, and then professionally in both Canada and Sweden. She began coaching in 2017, working as an assistant and skills coach in Germany and Sweden, and also working as an assistant with the German national team at the IIHF Men’s World Championships.
Campbell was signed by the Firebirds for their inaugural season beginning in 2022, and she led them to two consecutive trips to the AHL’s Calder Cup Final.
“She has an interesting background, not only with skating, but with skill development,” general manager Ron Francis said earlier this year, via ESPN . “That’s a big part of what they’ve been able to do with Coachella Valley. She runs the power play, works with the forwards, works with everybody to improve their skating and skill development and, like Dan said, she and Stu Bickel are both a big part of their success there.”
The Kraken went 34-35 last season, their third in existence, missing the playoffs despite reaching the Western Conference finals the year before. The team then fired head coach Dave Hakstrol, leading to the hiring of Bylsma in Seattle. This is Bylsma’s first head coaching job in the league since a two-year stint with the Buffalo Sabres, which ended in 2017. He began his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008, where he spent six seasons and led them to a Stanley Cup victory.
