dailyloe.com – Jessica Campbell will not return to the Seattle Kraken bench for the upcoming season, sources informed ESPN on Thursday. Her contract is set to expire this summer, and the Kraken are encouraging her to explore new opportunities as she garners interest across the league.
In 2024, Campbell made NHL history when the Kraken promoted her to assistant coach, marking her as the first woman in a full-time, on-the-bench role in the league. The Kraken have indicated they are open to her returning in some capacity, given her positive experience with the team.
At 33 years old, Campbell joined the Kraken after two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, their AHL affiliate. During her tenure there, she managed the power play and closely worked with forwards, helping the team reach consecutive Calder Cup Finals.
She played a pivotal role in the development of Tye Kartye, who transitioned from undrafted to AHL Rookie of the Year and is now an NHL regular. In the NHL, Campbell conducted one-on-one sessions with players including Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and Kaapo Kakko, who had a career year following his trade to the Kraken in December.
Campbell built her coaching credentials through skating and skills development, operating her own program and training NHL players during the offseason before joining Seattle’s organization. She has also been associated with the Nurnberg Ice Tigers in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
In addition, she served as an assistant coach for Germany at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship, becoming the first woman on the coaching staff of a men’s national team at the event. Campbell hails from Rocanville, Saskatchewan, and is a former captain at Cornell University.
She has played in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and represented the Canadian national team. The Seattle Kraken entered the NHL as an expansion franchise in 2021 and continue to develop their team.
