Breaking Barriers: Female Coaches Jessica Campbell and Emily Engel-Natzke Have Made NHL History
History was made in last night's game between the Seattle Kraken and the Washington Capitals involving female coaches Jessica Campbell and Emily Engel-Natzke.
The Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken made a little history in a game last night.
Two female coaches face each other in the NHL for the first time ever
Assistant coach Jessica Campbell and video coach Emily Engel-Natzke of the Kraken and Capitals, respectively, became the first female coaches in NHL history to face one another.
Engel-Natzke became a full-time female coach in 2022 for the Capitals and is a valued member of the video crew for the team.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery recently credited her and assistant Brett Leonhardt with a clutch offside challenge for a win over the New York Rangers.
Campbell, meanwhile, is the NHL's first female bench coach and has been creating buzz with the Kraken.
She was a veteran player in the Canadian Women's Hockey League, now out of commission, but she's a fan favorite, signing jerseys and energizing young girls with her presence.
Her presence is even felt in the Professional Women's Hockey League, where she's been an outspoken supporter, even dropping in for ceremonies and announcing starting lineups.
The game last night wasn't Campbell's first run-ins with Capitals players. As an assistant for the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds, she coached several of them during two Calder Cup playoff runs.
Thursday's game was yet another first in their burgeoning careers. The two teams will face each other one more time this season, in the U.S. capital on March 9th, so all eyes will be on the two once again.
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