Alexis Downie, Aly Lozoff, and Greg Cronin give their thoughts on Jessica Campbell and upcoming "Women in Sports" night

The Anaheim Ducks are set to host their third annual "Women in Sports Night" at Honda Center on Friday, Dec. 6, as the Ducks will match up against the visiting Minnesota Wild.

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The night is part of a two-day (Dec. 6-7) weekend involving panel discussions and networking events.

The weekend is coming not too long after the Ducks played a home-and-home series (Nov 25 and 27) against the Seattle Kraken, who hired the first female coach in NHL history, assistant coach Jessica Campbell.

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Ducks' broadcasters and head coach Greg Cronin were asked what it meant to see a woman behind the bench of an NHL team:

“I think it’s amazing," said Alexis Downie, host and content producer for the Anaheim Ducks' 'Ducks Stream' audio network. "I mean, it just speaks to how far the game has come. As (the Kraken organization) has said, she’s the most qualified for the job. I think it’s incredible that she was not only able to break that barrier but that they were accepting of that, too. It’s awesome to see, and I think that it’s only the start.”

“It’s incredible. For me, it’s been a pleasure over the last two decades or so to just watch how much it’s grown and how many women are filling roles that they weren’t before," said Ducks four-time Emmy Award-winning host and rinkside reporter Aly Lozoff. "So, anytime a woman gets an opportunity in hockey, especially, but sports more generally, I think it’s amazing.”

“I saw her for a couple years (in the AHL), so I’m familiar with it," said Ducks head coach Greg Cronin when asked about coaching against Campbell. "I think it’s great for women who want to get into sports. I think it’s a great dynamic for women being in sports. Period.”

Alexis Downie is set to moderate two panel discussions during the "Women in Sports" weekend.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity for not only just young girls and women but for guys and anyone who comes to the event to learn about the different areas of sports.," Downie said. "Whether it’s the athletes that we have or people on the business side, I’m really excited to represent the (Ducks) organization on that set.”

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Those set to speak and attend include: 

Sarah Bettencourt - Retired Captain, United States Marine Corps (USMC); three-time Sled Hockey World Champion, four-time Para Surf World Champion, women's; founder, San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey

Aisha Chaney - Coordinating Producer II, ESPN SportsCenter LA; three-time Emmy award-winning production executive

Caroline Marks - 2024 Olympic gold medalist surfer for Team USA; 2023 World Surf League (WSL) World Champion

Jessi Miley-Dyer - World Surf League (WSL) Commissioner; 2022 Sports Business Journal Game Changer

Christine Monjer - President, Los Angeles Sparks

Angela Ruggiero - International Hockey Hall of Fame member, four-time Olympian, and gold medalist (ice hockey, Team USA)

Natasha Watley – MLB youth softball ambassador; Olympic gold medalist for Team USA (softball, 2004); UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame member

“I don’t think about it in my day-to-day, but when we have an event like ‘Women in Sports,’ I do think it makes me a little more self-aware that I’m always a role model for somebody who might be watching and certainly for my own three-year-old daughter one day," said Lozoff when asked about the responsibility of being a prominent woman in sports.  "I’m just trying to make sure that I’m a professional and setting the right example for anyone who might be watching and who might want to try to do what I’m doing. It’s important.”

On Saturday, the event will continue with an on-ice women's skills clinic and a women-owned "vendor village" at Great Ice Park, the Anaheim Ducks practice facility. 

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