Jessica Campbell has been waiting, and preparing, throughout her entire hockey career for this moment. Each and every experience she's had, on and off the ice, has led her here.
"I've had this focus to continue and stay on my path and stay on track to learn, and grow, and be on top of the game at the pro level, and to make sure I'm always striving to be the best that I can be," Campbell said in an interview with NewYorkRangers.com on Tuesday, "so that an opportunity will come -- like it has now -- and that I'm ready for it."
On Tuesday, the Rangers announced that Campbell will join the Rangers' 2022 Development Camp as a coach, becoming the first woman in the history of the Original Six franchises to serve in such a role.
"It's hard to even unpack the level of gratitude and excitement for the opportunity because I've been working hard the last two years to really establish myself at the pro level," Campbell said. "I bring something unique and different to the table, and I'm confident and believe that that's what is going to be my special value-add. But when it comes to the actual opportunity at hand, I haven't really processed it. I think putting on the Rangers tracksuit in the role as a coach with those players is going to be a very special moment for me, and obviously really special for the growth of the game."
As a player, Campbell's resume is lengthy. The native of Rocanville, Saskatchewan skated for four years at Cornell, captaining the Big Red during her senior season, before playing professionally for the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL from 2014 through 2017. Prior to Cornell, Campbell represented Canada at two U-18 World Junior Championships, and in 2010, she captained Team Canada, scored the golden goal and was named tournament MVP.
This past year, Campbell made the transition to coaching, first with the Windy City Storm Girl's Hockey Program in Chicago, then with the Nurnberg Ice Tigers in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), where she served as an assistant coach and skills coach.
This spring, Campbell joined Germany's coaching staff at the Men's World Championship, becoming the first woman to join the coaching staff of a national team participating in Worlds.
Quelle:
https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/its-all...ell/c-334605956
