Jessica Campbell became the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history when the Seattle Kraken officially named her to the position on Wednesday. «I'm humbled, obviously, to be in this position,» Campbell stated. «You speak to the word first, to be the first, but that's never really been where my focus is. It's always on the work, it's on the impact, it's on the job.»
Diversity and innovative thinking have been key principles for the Kraken organization from the beginning. In this case, they are simply choosing the best person for the job. An accomplished college player before entering the coaching world, Campbell spent the last two seasons as an assistant to Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma with the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Women have risen to assistant general manager positions around the NHL, including former Kraken scout and current Vancouver Canucks executive Cammi Granato. Now, a woman will stand night-to-night behind an NHL bench.
«Just to believe anything is possible,» Campbell said. «I've, maybe in a naïve way, had the courage to believe that this could be possible. And even though I didn't see it, I believed I could do it. I think with that inner belief, whatever it is, in sport, in life, you can create whatever you believe in.
