Photo: Jason Redmond/AP/TT, Lindsey Wasson/AP/TT
For the first time ever, a woman stands in the booth for an NHL team.
Jessica Campbell, 32, is now making history – the first female coach ever in the world’s best hockey league.
– I’m here and now I’m just going to own the moment and enjoy the opportunity, she says to The Athletic.
The Canadian Jessica Campbell is himself a former ice hockey player who, among other things, won a WC silver with his national team. Maybe it is also the case that someone recognizes her as a player for the Malmö Redhawks? Even if you had no track of her before, it is now high time to commit both the name and the face to memory. Jessica Campbell is part of NHL history.
Trained the German national team
Already during the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2022, Jessica Campbell was part of Germany’s coaching staff, so she has broken barriers before. When she then took the step to Seattle’s AHL team Coachella Valley Firebirds and became an assistant coach there, she was already the first female coach in North American professional hockey.
Before this NHL season, she was moved up to the fine room for real. Seattle Kraken presented Dan Bylsma as head coach this summer and he brought Campbell with him as an assistant coach. On Tuesday evening, Swedish time, it was finally time! In Seattle’s game against the St. Louis Blues (a 2-3 loss), she was the first woman ever in the coaching booth. The Climate Pledge Arena cheered as her name was read before the match.
READ MORE: Håkan Loob lists his five favorite Swedes in the NHL this season
– I just try to continue to have a strong impact on every player that I have the opportunity to work with and not take it lightly. I’m here and now I’m just going to own the moment and enjoy the opportunity to do what I love on the biggest stage in the world, she told The Athletic ahead of the premiere.
Got to show off his skill
At the end of the game, Jessica Campbell was entrusted with the team’s final tactical talk as they took a timeout with 42 seconds left. Then it was she who drew on the board and instructed the players in the hunt for the equaliser.
Unfortunately, there was a loss in her first official match, but in the end the match was still a form of victory for Jessica Campbell who has now hopefully raked the field for other female coaches in the future.
This is quite an achievement. Nice job!
Glad the NHL is back on. Who are your favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year? Justify in a comment on Sportbibeln’s Facebook page.
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