Jessica Campbell was hired as an assistant coach by the NHL's Seattle Kraken. She will be the first woman in NHL history to serve as a full-time on-bench coach

The NHL's Seattle Kraken announced the hiring of Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods today to round out their coaching staff. Both were hired as assistant coaches.

Campbell's hiring is historic as she will become the first woman to serve as a full-time NHL assistant coach in an on-bench role.

“Jessica and I spent the last two years coaching in Coachella Valley,” said Seattle head coach Dan Bylsma. “I’m confident of what she can do for our staff and bring to the players. I watched her build strong relationships with prospects such as Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans. She has the ability to relate to players about their games and what they bring to a team. She’s demonstrated that over the last two seasons, not just with Tye Kartye and the others, but [veteran leaders] John Hayden and Max McCormick, among others. That’s why she is such an appealing candidate and why she’s joining our staff.”

Campbell has spent the last two seasons coaching as an assistant coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the American Hockey League helping the Firebirds reach the Calder Cup final both years.

Campbell is a former captain of Cornell in the NCAA and Canada's U-18 national team, and later spent three seasons with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL and won a World Championship silver medal with Canada's senior national team.

Prior to coaching in the AHL, Campbell served as an assistant with Germany's national team and the DEL's Nurnberg Ice Tigers, and a skating coach for the SHL's Malmo Redhawks.