Jessica Campbell broke a professional hockey barrier for women as the first female assistant coach in the American Hockey League.
The 30-year-old from Rocanville, Sask., was called to the coaching staff of the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Tuesday.
She joins head coach Dan Bylsma behind the bench of Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate in the inaugural season.
Campbell’s appointment comes weeks after becoming the first woman on a coaching staff at the men’s World Cup in Finland, where she was acting as an assistant for Germany.
The New York Rangers announced last month that Campbell would be a guest coach at their summer development camp, but the Kraken lured them away with a more plum position.
“What was kind of unique about the timing of everything was that very shortly after everything was announced, Dan Bylsma came forward and talked about a long-term opportunity within Coachella and the Kraken organization,” Campbell said.
“My goal has always been to embark on a path where I could be at the pro level full-time.”
Campbell heads to Seattle development camp starting Monday to work with Kraken prospects who have been drafted or signed as free agents over the past two seasons.
Bylsma, who coached the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2009 Stanley Cup, said Kraken general manager Ron Francis asked him what qualities he wanted in an assistant coach.
“I wanted a rising coach,” said Bylsma. “I wanted a coach with a lot of passion who shows that he can get involved and work with the players. This is the trainer I’ve been looking for. Jessica’s name popped up.
“Having just had a few conversations with Jess, it was clear to me what she’s accomplished over the past three years in her skating schools and developing her skills with NHL players and pro players…she’s this aspiring coach.”
Campbell spent the past season with the USHL Tri-City Storm in development and oversaw the Windy City Storm Girls’ Hockey Program in Chicago.
Campbell was also invited to the German Elite League (DEL) as a skills coach for the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. Her role expanded upon her arrival to assistant coach benching her for games.
“Things have kind of escalated since I went to Germany and worked in the DEL,” Campbell said. “The players were my biggest advocates.
“That led to the opportunity to train at the World Cup. Coming back from the Worlds I was excited about the pro path I was taking on the pro side of the game. Luckily, some people took notice and recognized the work.”
NHL teams have recently hired and promoted several women in scouting, player staff, and management roles.
The Toronto Maple Leafs (Hayley Wickenheiser), Chicago Blackhawks (Meghan Hunter) and Vancouver Canucks (Cammi Granato, Emilie Castonguay) have used these women as assistant general managers.
However, a woman has yet to stand behind an NHL bench in a game. Campbell is a candidate for that.
“I’m definitely working toward that goal,” Campbell said. “I try to get the right experience and learn from the best.
“It is a difficult task. You have to be prepared and executed and you have to do a good job to be in that position and lead people at the highest level.
“The visibility of that is important to me, but at the same time my job of coaching and making sure I’m doing my best is paramount.”
Campbell played for the Canadian women’s ice hockey team, which won silver at the 2015 World Championships in Malmo, Sweden.
The forward also represented Canada at the 2009 and 2010 Women’s U18 World Cup. Campbell captained the team in 2010 and scored Canada’s extra-time goal in their 5-4 win over USA to win the gold medal.
She spent three seasons in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (2014-17) with the Calgary Inferno, winning a Clarkson Cup with them in 2016. She scored two goals in the 8-3 win over Montreal in the league game.
Campbell was just starting a business as a power skating coach in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Some NHL players in the Kelowna, BC area where she lived reached out to her for help prior to Edmonton’s playoff bubble in August.
Luke Schenn, Shea Weber, Andrew Ladd and Brent Seabrook were among the 20 or so NHL players Campbell prepared for the playoffs.
“I knew then that I could do it,” said Campbell. “There is value here. The guys come for my work and they want me to skate these skates and I was excited about the future I had in the game and at the pro level.”
Campbell also skated on CBC’s “Battle Of The Blades” in 2020, finishing runner-up with partner Asher Hill.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 5, 2022.