Kelowna roots run deep for the NHL’s first female coach

Seattle Kraken Assistant Coach Jessica Campbell's hockey journey has some strong ties within the Kelowna area. She spent part of her playing career out here, and returned back after playing, in what would be a key step that has shaped her coaching career.

"I came out here in high school to the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy and that catapulted my career as a player to the National team. And then after I finished playing, I came back here to start coaching at the academy," Campbell told RocketFAN.ca's Regan Bartel. "Obviously the ties are strong and you always remember where you came from and I'm just a big believer of those reasons, and staying strong with those roots."

She was the first female coach behind the bench as an assistant for Team Germany at the IIHF Men’s World Championships. In 2022, she became the first female assistant coach in the American Hockey League. Now, she’s set to be the first woman behind the bench in NHL history as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken.

"There's definitely pressure. I think with any real opportunity and the task at hand. There's obviously a weight of it all," she said. "I know what I'm getting into. I'm excited about it and I'm looking forward to handling that."

Like many hockey kids growing up in Canada, Campbell had the dream of playing in the NHL specifically the Montreal Canadiens. When that didn't go quite as planned, her sights were set on playing for the Canadian Women's National Team.

Although coaching at the NHL level wasn't the goal growing up, being there now feels like a significant milestone bringing her hockey journey full circle.

"I didn't imagine coaching at this level because I didn't see it for myself. And so to really be in this position, I'm obviously humbled and honored," Campbell said. "For my family to be able to now be in the National Hockey League and think of a young girl that had aspirations to play for the Montreal Canadiens because that was my favorite team and my goal and path to get to the national team. But now to be here and to get to do this work at this level, I'm just extremely excited."