skip navigation

Jessica Campbell to Join Seattle Kraken

By WCS, 07/05/22, 9:00PM CDT

Share

The Windy City Storm is thrilled to announce that Jessica Campbell, President of Girls Hockey will be taking on a new status as an assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds at the start of the upcoming 2022-2023 season. The Coachella Valley Firebirds has just become the AHL affiliate to NHL’s recently established Seattle Kraken. The Firebirds will be head coached this upcoming season by Dan Bylsma, a well-respected and credible veteran of the game making his mark as a player in the NHL, as well as coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins to winning the Stanley Cup in the 2008-2009 season. Jessica awaits this new opportunity with nothing but gratitude and appreciation to those who aided in her career journey thus far. Campbell mentions, “I am thrilled to join the Kraken organization and work with Dan and his staff for the inaugural season of Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey. I would like to thank the players and coaches I have worked with along the way that have helped me reach this level. I feel a sense of honor and pride knowing I am representing our girls back home in Chicago and I tribute this upcoming season to all of them.” This notable achievement marks Jessica Campbell down in the history books once again, as she is becoming the first ever female assistant coach in the American Hockey League.

This summer has been nothing short of sensational for Campbell as she has just recently returned from being alongside the German National Team at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championships, where she was also the first ever female coach for this competitive international tournament. “We are thrilled for Jessica and are excited for her opportunity to be an assistant coach for the Firebirds. Our program is proud to develop coaches on to the highest level of hockey and for Jessica to keep breaking new ground in hockey. She will attain great heights in her role with the Firebirds organization, as well as coaching alongside someone as knowledgeable as Dan Bylsma. – Mark Jalcovik WCS President”.

While coaching for the Firebirds, Jessica will be simultaneously remain involved with the Windy City Storm overseeing and aiding the success of our program from afar. She will continue to have a significant role within our club while maintaining her position as President here at WCS. Her aim and focus on growing the game will continue while with the Firebirds for the upcoming season but her commitment to WCS Girls Hockey remains unwavering. “This is just the beginning of the Storm legacy and I feel very confident that our staff and coaches will do an incredible job leading our teams to success this inaugural season in purple”, Campbell states. Jessica is just getting started in what appears to be a such a monumental time for female figures to be recognized at the NHL level.

Jessica will be rerouting from the NHL draft this upcoming week, and will no longer be attending New York Rangers development camp as a guest coach, but instead leading the Seattle Kraken camp with Dan Bylsma as their newest member of the coaching staff. Jessica will be with us in Chicago for season preparation and report to Seattle Kraken Camp on September 21st and be back with our WCS organization in the off-season when the Firebirds season completes in 2023. Jessica will remain a positive role model and active mentor for all girls in our Windy City Storm organization and will continue to emulate what is possible for our girls to achieve at the highest level in the game.  

Congratulations Jessica, the WCS family is ecstatic to have you as a part of our organization!