The NHL’s first female coach was a special guest at Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School in Kelowna on Aug. 27.
Jessica Campbell spoke to employees, students, and school families, sharing her story about growing from a young hockey player to breaking barriers in professional hockey.
An Aberdeen Hall media release said Campbell’s comments touched on leadership, character development, and fostering resilience in sports and education. She emphasized the importance of the three “L’s” as a leader.
“Listen, lift, and love,” Campbell told the audience. “Listen to [your players], lift them up, and love them through whatever they are going through. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
The opportunity to learn from a leader in the professional sports world underscores Aberdeen Hall’s ongoing efforts to provide enriching experiences for its staff, faculty, and students according to the media release.
“We are thrilled to have had Jessica speak to our community,” said Chris Grieve, Head of School at Aberdeen Hall. “Her journey is a testament to the values we strive to instill in our students - resilience, perseverance, and the belief that with hard work, anything is possible.”
Campbell, who is from Rocanville, Saskatchewan (east of Regina) made her hockey debut playing with the Canadian national team at the 2014 4 Nations Cup and won a silver medal with the team at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship.
She was named to the Seattle Kraken’s coaching staff in July after two seasons coaching with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, where she was also the first female to coach in any capacity.
