Way To Go, Soupy! Jessica Campbell Makes NHL History As Seattle Assistant Will Become First Woman Coach In League History

Huge congratulations to Soupy on making NHL history!

After two years as an assistant coach for AHL Coachella Valley, in which she helped the Firebirds to consecutive Calder Cup Final appearances in their first two seasons, Jessica Campbell made history on Wednesday when she joined their parent club in Seattle to become the first woman to become a coach in NHL history. 

Campbell was an assistant coach to recently-named Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma for her two years in CV and was also the first woman to be an assistant coach in the AHL. Renowned for her power skating clinic and skills coaching among hockey circles, Campbell popped up on many more radars when she worked the German mens bench as an assistant at the 2022 World Championships and for the DEL's Nürnberg Ice Tigers before Bylsma added her to his initial CV staff.

“During our tenure in Coachella Valley, I saw firsthand Jessica’s commitment to player development,” Bylsma said. “Her ability to establish relationships with her players, specifically Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans, was an important factor in this hire. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her at the NHL level. She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team.”

A good Sasky gal, the 32-year-old Campbell played four years at Cornell followed by three with Calgary of the CWHL. She also won U18 gold in 2010 and silver at the 2015 Worlds.

Congrats, Soupy! It's well-deserved and well-earned. Keep kicking doors in. And keep inspiring our nieces, sisters, daughters, cousins, Ma-Dukes, aunts, and grand-mamas to follow the trail you blazed.