Writer: Sofi Dawalibi
Editor: Mare Lara
On October 8th, 2024 in Climate Pledge Arena, history was made as Jessica Campbell made her debut as an assistant coach on the season opener for the Seattle Krakens. Alongside head coach Dan Bylsma, Campbell pioneered as the first woman to be behind the benches in the NHL and she fit right in. With the drop of the puck, the coaches went straight to work, Jessica working with Dave Lowry concerning the forwards and power play assisting with Bob Woods. Though Seattle lost 3-2 to St. Louis Blues, Campbell said to Seattle’s press conference, “It’s just a normal day at work for me.”
It’s never easy to be the first – even as Jessica has stated she doesn’t plan to be the last – since all eyes are on you, and any mistake might be referred back to her by people who are not pleased with a woman taking her space in this sport. Nevertheless, Jessica has not only earned her place but also has a fascinating life story that led her to the elite hockey league. Hockey wasn’t simply a choice for her, it was embedded in her life since birth.
Growing up in Rocanville, Canada, Jessica was one of four siblings in her big hockey-prone family – as they all had played hockey either growing up or in college. – Her sister, Gina, played for the University of Saskatchewan, while her brother Dion played for the University of New Brunswick. The oldest of the siblings, Josh Campbell, was a prodigy in their town. Signing with Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Yorkton Terriers, before being killed in a tragic car accident on October 11th, 2002.
With a full and heavy heart, Jessica kept playing as a way to cope with the loss and her emotions, but this time adopting number #8 as it was her older brother’s jersey number. Her family and her brother’s old teammates would support her at her games as her parents would drive her hours and hours, week to week and weekends to summer camps to practice. It all paid off as No. 8 was the number she wore as she scored a hat-trick against the Robert Morris Colonials when she played with Cornell Big Red women’s ice hockey. Appeared in over 30 contests, registering 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points with a +22 rating, all in her inaugural season.
Jessica wore that number as the captain of Team Saskatchewan at the National Women’s Under-18 Championship in 2007. Also in her debut for the Canadian Women’s National Team in 2014’s 4 Nationals Cup, winning gold. As well as when she was a part of Hockey Canada’s Pursuit of Excellence team as she won a silver medal at the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament, becoming the Most Valuable Player. In 41 games, she scored 57 goals and 47 assists.
“I remember looking up to my hero, Cassie Campbell, at the age of five, dreaming of becoming the next ‘Campbell’ to wear the Maple Leaf, and deciding to set my mind to it” Jessica said in a statement. While she loved playing and had a phenomenal career, there was an itch of what would come next. In 2017, she retired from the Canadian National Team, accepting the position of lead power-skating instructor and assistant coach of the Midget Female Prep team at the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna.
As she found her way into coaching, she opened her own power skating business named JC Powerskating. With her company, she was able to reach so many players such as Stanley Cup champion Joel Edmundson, former first-round pick Tyson Jost, and Olympic gold medalist Natalie Spooner. Her business focuses on improving players’ mechanics, efficiency, and skills with a tagline that says “speed that separates.”
In 2021, she was offered a job on the Germany National Ice Hockey Team as an assistant coach where she met Dan Bylsma – who at the time was the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL. – The AHL is the development league for the National Hockey League (NHL), where prospects can develop their skills and possibly move up to the NHL. Byslma took notice of Campbell's talent and aspiration, hiring her as his assistant coach in Coachella Valley. As the Firebirds are the team that ultimately may go to the Seattle Krakens, as Dan Bylsma was hired as a head coach for this upcoming season, he brought Jessica with him.
“Through all the hard work, endless sacrifice, sweat and tears. I’ve come to realize that no matter what path we take in hockey or life, what we set out to do, or how many medals we win, it’s important to leave those you meet better than you found them” Jessica told the Toronto Star. Her story is nothing short of inspirational, the trials and turbulence being present behind extremely driven people is nothing new. But, Jessica to set out a goal and make history in the meantime is astonishing. As she paves her path forward, it opens doors for other women to not only dream but to achieve.
Comments