A 32-year-old Cornell graduate has left her job to pursue her dream of coaching in the NHL, becoming the league's first female coach.

Jessica Campbell made a snap decision in a Starbucks drive-thru that changed the trajectory of her career.

Campbell quit her job coaching hockey to teenagers and began plotting the launch of her own power skating business, she told Canadian sports blog theScore as soon as she pulled out of the parking lot.

In her 20s, Campbell viewed business as the initial step towards realizing her childhood aspiration of working in the National Hockey League and coaching the sport she cherished at the pinnacle level.

On the first night of the NHL season, Campbell made history as the first full-time female coach in the league.

In July, the 32-year-old was appointed as an assistant coach of the Seattle Kraken by incoming head coach Dan Bylsma, whom she had previously coached on a Kraken minor league team.

Campbell's appointment marks the culmination of decades spent on the ice, starting with boys' hockey until she was 17 years old, followed by four years on Cornell University's women's ice hockey team and three years of professional play in Canada.

"Knowing that I am a part of something bigger than myself, my job, and my coaching fuels me daily, Campbell stated to NHL.com. Through showing up, keeping my head in the right space, and doing my job, I am confident that only good will result."

She added: "I hope someone else will have a door held open for them instead of having to push it open and figure out how to unlock it."

Breaking the ice

In the spring of 2020, Campbell was fortunate enough to receive her first major opportunity during the global pandemic shutdown.

JC Power Skating, launched in 2019, experienced rapid growth that spring despite being a new business.

In August, with the NHL suspended its season, many Canadian players searched for a place to skate.

Damon Severson, a childhood friend of Campbell and an NHL star, contacted her while she was conducting small ice training sessions in Kelowna, British Columbia, as reported by The Athletic.

Campbell's dream of coaching in the NHL was becoming more attainable as she trained dozens of players, according to the Athletic.

""The guys in Kelowna showed up for me and almost gave me permission to believe in this dream," she said."

In 2022, Campbell was recruited to be the assistant coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the minor-league affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, after coaching professional players in Sweden and Germany for several months.

'Success usually trumps all negativity'

The pressure of being the first woman to hold a coaching job in the NHL's 107-year history is not immune to Campbell.

Her primary focus isn't the milestone as she heads into her first season.

"I must continue to do what I've always done, which is to do my job to the best of my ability," she said to the Athletic. "I wake up every day, put on my shoes, skates, and tracksuit in the same way as my colleagues."

Campbell has previously been the first woman to coach on an American Hockey League (AHL) bench.

"She shared with ESPN that she felt the extra pressure because of the extra attention and scrutiny she received due to being different. Despite this, she saw it as a positive because she believed that success would eventually outweigh any negativity."

Campbell's work ethic stems from her older brother, Josh, who was a hockey player and tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 18.

My brother's mindset of fearlessly pursuing his goals has always been an inspiration to me, as I witnessed it firsthand in his athletic and personal achievements.

She stated: "I am proud and honored that my family gets to share in my experience of living out my brother's dream of working or playing at the highest level on the men's side. There is so much joy around the game."

Campbell hopes to help the Kraken have a successful season by focusing on her job and paving a new path for women in sports.

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