STUMP STORY OF THE DAY
Jessica Campbell: The First of Many
A sport that is often critiqued for being “behind the times” by many, hockey once again proves it is pushing the boundaries of the sport.
In 2022, the Coachella Firebirds, a minor league affiliate of the NHL Seattle Kraken, made history when they hired Jessica Campbell to be the first woman appointment to a full-time assistant coaching role in the AHL. On the fourth of July, Campbell made history again.
Campbell is now the first full-time assistant coach in NHL history as she takes on a new role with the big club in Seattle. New Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma spent the last two years with Campbell in Coachella Valley, “I watched her build strong relationships with prospects such as Tye Kartye, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans. She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team.”
Campbell herself played college hockey in the Ivy League with the Cornell Big Red and the spent some time playing professionally in Sweden and Canada, this was prior to the formulation of the PWHL in the United States.
Campbell spoke to the media the other day about her new role and what it means to her, “though I am honored to be the first, I don’t want to be the only, and I honestly don’t feel like I’m the only one in this organization”, “You speak the word first, to be the first. But that’s never really where my focus is, it’s always on the work, it’s on the impact, it’s on the job.”
Campbell may be the first but she will surely not be the last. As the women’s game continues to grow professionally, so will the amount of women who work their way into roles in the NHL. It’s an amazing opportunity to grow the game, and Campbell is just the one who broke open the floodgates.
The Kraken, as well, have to be commended to their commitment to growing the game. The NHL’s newest franchise has made strides on and off the ice, including the first stadium in the United States that’s powered by 100% renewable energy, the appropriately named Climate Pledge Arena.
Campbell and the Kraken look to bounce back from a missed Stanley Cup playoff season with a 34-35-13 record along with relieving former head coach Dave Hakstol of his duties.
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