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ITHACA, N.Y. – Former Cornell women’s ice hockey captain, Canadian national team member, and first ever woman assistant coach in the American Hockey League (AHL), Jessica Campbell ’14, continues her journey of trail-blazing for women and girls. Following a strong two-year run with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Campbell has been named an assistant coach of the Seattle Kraken, making her the first ever female assistant coach in NHL history.
In her first season as an assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL, she aided in the Firebirds 48-17 regular season record, which was good for the second most wins in the league. Coachella Valley made a strong run through the playoffs, ultimately finding themselves in game seven of the 2023 Calder Cup, making Jessica the first woman coach in AHL history to make the championship game. Although they fell to the Hershey Bears in the series finale, Campbell and the Firebirds exemplified excellence and consistency throughout their opening campaign and proved that they will be a force for years to come.
During her second season behind the bench for Coachella Valley, the Firebirds would find their way back to the Calder Cup Finals after leading the way in the Pacific Division with a 46-15 regular season record. The team’s fate would be met again in the Calder Cup Finals at the hands of the Hershey Bears. Campbell played a vital role in leading the Firebirds to two consecutive Calder Cup appearances.
Campbell has continued to pave the way for women and be a difference-maker in the organizations that she is a part of. Being a standout athlete in the women’s game, she faced many doubts and critiques from others of whether her experience, knowledge, and skills would be able to translate to the men’s game. Jessica was never worried or distracted by those naysayers. “My knowledge as a student of the game blended with my playing and coaching experience got me to understand, I feel confident, I feel prepared. I knew I’d done the work the past two years with the guys. There were no nerves [behind the benches in Germany] or fear. I felt capable and ready to step into it”, she mentioned in a story with Bob Condor from the Seattle Kraken.
Coach Campbell played boys hockey until she was 17 years old, before joining the Big Red and putting up 100 career points in her four years wearing the red and white sweaters. “I always had a belief as a young girl, playing boys’ hockey until I was 17, that I was equal and capable too. I’ve never focused on my gender,” Campbell told ESPN. Campbell is a shining example of taking an opportunity and consistently making the most of it.
The Seattle Kraken have announced that Head Coach Dan Bylsma added Jessica Campbell ’14 as an assistant coach, alongside Bob Woods and returning staff members Dave Lowry and Steve Briere. This groundbreaking addition of Campbell to the Kraken’s staff represents a symbol of hope and inspiration for women and girls who dream to follow in the footsteps of Campbell.
