Jessica Campbell Makes NHL History with Seattle Kraken
History quietly stood behind the bench in Seattle as the 2024–25 season began. Jessica Campbell, once a well-known Canadian player and now an up-and-coming coach, took her place as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken, becoming the first woman to work as a full-time coach behind an NHL bench.
Campbell saw the moment as more about what she could do than what it represented. She reached the National Hockey League because of her reputation, her ability to help players improve, and her results, the kind that matter to teams.
From Saskatchewan to the Ivy League
Campbell was born on June 24, 1992, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She started playing hockey in local leagues before getting better at Cornell University. She was one of the best players on both offense and defense and became team captain in her last year, earning respect for her play, leadership, and focus.
After graduating, she played for the Calgary Inferno in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, which has since closed. She also played for Canada in several international tournaments, including the IIHF Women’s World Championship, where she learned what it was like to play against top teams.
Reinventing Herself Behind the Bench
After the conclusion of her playing career, Campbell did not abandon the game; instead, she dissected it. Her reputation as a top power-skating and skills coach was built by her work with NHL players during offseasons and her focus on biomechanics, edge work, and pace.
The fact that she could communicate complex movement patterns in simple terms, thanks to her technical knowledge and ability, quickly made her a go-to person. When she joined the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in Germany’s top professional league, her expertise translated abroad. Coaching men’s hockey in Europe made her résumé more tactical, and her voice in professional locker rooms improved. The Seattle front office took note.
The Firebirds Blueprint
Campbell helped create one of the most exciting attacks in the American Hockey League with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Seattle’s AHL partner team, before he played his first NHL game.
As an assistant coach, she worked closely with the players who scored and with groups that played in special situations, helping the team reach the Calder Cup Finals two years in a row.
Campbell’s approach to player development made the Firebirds one of the teams that scored the most goals, thanks to their quick rushes up the ice and strong teamwork in the offensive zone.
Her influence was obvious: quick decisions, sharp skating, and a constant push to play fast.
A Historic Promotion — Grounded in Merit
On July 3, 2024, Campbell was promoted to Seattle’s NHL staff. While headlines highlighted her as the first woman to coach full-time in the NHL, the team focused on her performance. Campbell started behind the bench at the beginning of the 2024–25 season, not as a symbolic hire, but as a key coach working to improve Seattle’s offense and power play.
She is mainly responsible for working with the forwards and helping the team make the most of their power plays. Her practices are known for their detail and demand. Every drill has a clear goal, and every repetition is tracked. She describes the team’s style as ‘no BS’ and ‘hard-nosed.’ This approach fits Seattle’s identity: organized, physical, and responsible.
Coaching Style: Detail, Pace, Accountability
The influence of Campbell can be seen in micro-adjustments. The rush should be spaced forward. Timing of entries. Inside positioning for retrievals. Small edges that compound over 82 games.
The unique perspective she brings stems from her background in skating mechanics. Instead of simply diagramming plays, she focuses on the physical habits that enable them to succeed: edge control, weight transfer, and stick positioning.
Her guidance often leads forward to talk about clarity, which means not just knowing where to go, but also how to get there efficiently. The “incremental improvement” mantra she promotes mirrors elite performance culture. Growth is daily, measurable, and non-negotiable.
Beyond the Milestone
Campbell’s presence on an NHL bench is an indication of progress for women in professional hockey, but she has consistently emphasized the work itself. A generation of coaches is represented by her, who views the game through data, skill specificity, and fluent communication.
Her impact in Seattle will ultimately be judged by results, just as any other coach’s is.
The way she has progressed in hockey – from Saskatchewan rinks to Ivy League captaincy, from international competition to European professional benches, from AHL success to NHL history – has already broadened the definition of leadership in hockey.
Jessica Campbell’s hire is not solely about being a groundbreaking hire for the Kraken. As a skill architect, she is tasked with improving an offense in a league where margins are razor-thin and where pace and precision often determine everything.
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