Jessica Campbell Shatters NHL Glass Ceiling: Appointed Seattle Kraken Assistant Coach

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024

The Seattle Kraken have brought Jessica Campbell on board as an assistant coach, marking her as the first woman to be behind an NHL bench.

Campbell set a precedent earlier by becoming the first woman to coach in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, leading the team's forwards and power play to the Calder Cup Final.

Additionally, the Kraken recruited Bob Woods, a former assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild, to manage their defense and penalty kill. Woods takes over from Jay Leach, who has joined the Boston Bruins.

During the offseason, the Kraken bolstered their roster with notable signings, including puck-moving defenseman Brandon Montour and center Chandler Stephenson.

Campbell's influence on players was clearly evident during her tenure with the Firebirds, where she promoted open communication and focused on development, resulting in high participation rates in optional skills practices.

Prior to her coaching journey, Campbell served as captain of Cornell's hockey team, played professionally in both Canada and Sweden, and contributed to the Nurnberg Ice Tigers in Germany, where she made history as the first woman on the staff of a men's national team.

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