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Jessica Campbell

Jessica Campbell is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jessica Campbell is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. She is recognized as the first woman to serve as a full-time coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). As a player, she represented Canada at major international tournaments and later moved into coaching at the professional level.

Early life and playing career

Campbell was born in Saskatchewan and developed as a hockey player in Canada. She later played collegiate hockey at Cornell University and represented Canada in international competition.

International play

Campbell debuted with Canada's senior women's national team at the 2014 4 Nations Cup. She won a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship and earlier captained Canada to an under-18 world title.

Professional and collegiate career

At Cornell, Campbell played four seasons and served as team captain. She also played professionally for the Calgary Inferno in the Canadian Women's Hockey League.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Campbell transitioned into coaching and skills development. She later joined the Seattle Kraken as an assistant coach, becoming the first woman to hold a full-time coaching role in NHL history.

Key facts

  • First full-time female coach in NHL history
  • Played for the Canadian women's national team
  • Won silver at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship
  • Played collegiate hockey at Cornell University
  • Played professionally for the Calgary Inferno in the CWHL
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Canadian context

Campbell is a Canadian hockey figure from Saskatchewan whose playing and coaching career has been significant for Canadian women's hockey and for representation in North American professional hockey.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jessica Campbell?
Jessica Campbell is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player known for becoming the first full-time female coach in NHL history.
What team does Jessica Campbell coach?
She is an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League.
Did Jessica Campbell play for Canada?
Yes. She played for Canada's women's national team and competed in major international tournaments.
What is Jessica Campbell known for in hockey history?
She is widely recognized as the first woman to serve as a full-time coach in the NHL.
Where did Jessica Campbell play college hockey?
She played four seasons at Cornell University.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Campbell_(ice_hockey)
    Supports: Birth date, Canadian nationality, player and coach biography, national team participation, and NHL first full-time female coach claim.
  2. CBC Sports — https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/jessica-campbell-trailblazer-kraken-assistant-coach-nhl-1.7368535
    Supports: Kraken assistant coach role and first woman to hold an on-the-bench assistant or associate coach role in NHL history.
  3. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/jessica-campbell-a-milestone-moment-earned
    Supports: Seattle Kraken assistant coach appointment, coaching milestone, and prior playing and coaching background.
  4. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/it-s-all-coming-together-for-jessica-campbell-334605956
    Supports: Cornell career, Calgary Inferno play, and coaching work in Europe and with Germany's national team.
  5. HockeyDB — https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=203345
    Supports: Playing and coaching record including AHL and NHL assistant coaching entries.