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Kraken Coach Makes NHL History

When the Seattle Kraken kicked off their 2024-25 season, one of their coaches made history.

Nick Horwat

Coachella Valley Firebirds assistant coach Jessica Campbell talks to Firebirds forward Cameron Hughes (19) during practice at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Coachella Valley Firebirds assistant coach Jessica Campbell talks to Firebirds forward Cameron Hughes (19) during practice at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. / Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Seattle Kraken opened their 2024-25 season by naming a new captain in Jordan Eberle, but they also made history when the puck hit the ice. When the Kraken hit the ice for their first game of the season, assistant coach Jessica Campbell became the first woman to ever coach an NHL game.

When the Kraken organization promoted Dan Bylsma from the American Hockey League to the NHL level, he made sure to bring Campbell with him.

The 32-year-old Campbell spent the last two seasons working alongside Bylsma with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, where they reached the Calder Cup Final each year.

Before kicking off her coaching career, Campbell played four years of college hockey with the Cornell Big Red and another three with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. In four years with Cornell, she picked up 100 points in 131 games.

Campbell has represented Canada on multiple occasions and has multiple medals from the international stage. She and Team Canada took home a silver medal in 2015 during the Women’s World Championship.

The Kraken are hopeful the 2024-25 season can see a return to the postseason. After missing in 2023-24, Seattle is looking for the new coach bump from not only Bylsma but the history-making Campbell.

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Nick Horwat
NICK HORWAT

Nick Horwat is a contributor with Breakaway On SI. He was previously a credentialed reporter for The Hockey News covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A Pittsburgh native, Nick graduated from Point Park University and started reporting on news and sports with KDKA Radio and 93.7 The Fan. After hosting a Penguins talk radio show in college, he morphed the show into a podcast. The Tip of the Ice-Burgh Podcast has been a leading Penguins podcast since 2019. Follow him on Twitter @NickHorwat41.

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