Campbell is a first-year coach for Seattle and the first woman to be an assistant or associate coach in NHL history. The Kraken hired Campbell in July after she spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, gaining experience with Seatte’s new head coach, Dan Bylsma.

While women have held coaching positions in the NBA, MLB and NFL for years, no woman has ever coached full-time in the NHL — until now.

Campbell is the first woman to be a full-time assistant coach in NHL and will be behind the bench when the Seattle Kraken open their season against the St. Louis Blues at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN+, SN360, TVAS).

SEATTLE – In the Kraken’s season opener, when the cameras pan to the benches, ESPN viewers will get a glimpse of a first. Jessica Campbell will assume her place behind the players as the St. Louis Blues visit Climate Pledge Arena.

The Seattle Kraken have one more sleep until the team takes on the St.Louis Blues in their season opener at Climate Pledge Arena Tuesday at 1:30PM PST.