Seattle Kraken's AHL affiliate makes history with recent coaching hire

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Dorin Canaday
July 5, 2022 (11:57)

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The Seattle Kraken franchise made history Tuesday morning with its most recent coaching hire for their AHL affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The franchise hired Jessica Campbell as the Firebirds' assistant coach, making her the first-ever female to be behind a bench in AHL history.

Born in Rocanville, Saskatchewan, Canada, she competed for Cornell in the NCAA, serving as captain her senior year. She played professionally for the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL from 2014 to 2017. She also represented Canada at two U-18 World Junior Championships, including in 2010, when she captained Team Canada, scored the gold-medal-winning goal and was named tournament MVP.

As per ESPN's Emily Kaplan:

"It's shaping up to be a monumental offseason for women in hockey operation roles. Cammi Granato and Emilie Castonguay (Vancouver Canucks) and Meghan Hunter (Chicago Blackhawks) have all recently been named assistant general managers. Emily Engel-Natzke was promoted to video coordinator of the Washington Capitals last week, becoming the first full-time female coaching staff member in the NHL."