A woman on the players’ bench sets the tone for the Swiss arch-rival

published24. May 2022, 04:25

Jessica Campbell is an assistant coach with the German national ice hockey team. The 29-year-old Canadian is responsible for fine-tuning ice skating at the Hockey World Championships.

von

Adrian Hunziker

(from Helsinki)

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The Canadian assistant coach Jessica Campbell gives instructions on the German players’ bench.

AFP

The 29-year-old is a Skills Development Coach. That means she specializes in ice skating and special teams.

AFP

Head coach Toni Söderholm (left) praises his assistant and says: “She works meticulously, looks at details, communicates well.”

AFP

• Jessica Campbell is the first woman on the boards at a men’s hockey world championship.

• The Canadian is an assistant with the German national team.

• The 29-year-old does not see herself as a pioneer.

For the first time in the history of the men’s Ice Hockey World Championship, a woman is on the boards of a national team. Former Canadian international Jessica Campbell supports German coach Toni Söderholm. The Finn says regarding his assistant: “She works meticulously, pays attention to details, communicates well. We both have an interest in the team playing as well as possible.” And Campbell immediately received further praise from the 44-year-old: “She’s more direct than me, gets to the point – a little better than me.”

But what exactly is Campbell’s job? Officially, she is a «Skills Development Coach». That means she specializes in ice skating and special teams (i.e. the game in over or under numbers). “I am the support of the coaching team, I pass on other perspectives, ideas and knowledge,” explains Campbell himself. She has a different view of the game, her focus being puck possession. “I try to suggest other ways than Toni to achieve the same goals.”

Welcomed by the players with open arms

There is a lot of excitement in Helsinki around Campbell. She says: “It’s good for the game that there’s so much hype around me. But I’m here to coach.” Campbell does not mind that she is almost exclusively asked that as a woman she is an exception in the male domain of ice hockey. She makes the following statement: «My goal has always been to coach at the highest level. It wasn’t regarding men and women, I just wanted to work with the professionals. Joining the men appealed to me, not because of the challenge, but because I bring a unique perspective.”

Above all, she wants to do her job really well, as well as she can. When asked if she wants to push boundaries with her role, she replies, “My focus isn’t on being a pioneer. But when I help others to get ahead, that’s great. I’m proud to be here and to show that no matter how or who you are, you get the opportunity to show how you can be successful.” In addition, she was welcomed by all players with open arms, she sees no barriers between them, Campbell continued.

Special duel once morest Canada

With the German team, Campbell met Canada, her home country, in the first game at this World Cup – the maple leaves prevailed 5:3. It was a special feeling, she says. “I got really nostalgic regarding being on the other side. I worked with some Canadian players in the off-season. It was also special for them to see me on the other side.” But the Canadian players and officials always supported her and got in touch with her, which meant a lot to her.

For Campbell, the journey from player to coach was quick, very quick. «I became a coach right following my active career. I loved coaching the boys. But I never thought I’d become a full-time coach,” she admits. She is very grateful to Söderholm for the opportunity to be at the World Cup. So far, the cooperation between Campbell, Söderholm and the players seems to be working well, Germany is definitely in the quarterfinals. In the last group game, the Germans meet the Swiss national team on Tuesday (from 11.20 a.m. live in our ticker). Should Campbell then not have too much influence on the game, the Swiss fans would certainly not be unhappy. Because a defeat once morest your archrival always hurts.

• Saturday, May 14, 3:20 p.m.: Switzerland – Italy 5:2

• Sunday, May 15, 7:20 p.m.: Denmark – Switzerland 0:6

• Tuesday, May 17, 7:20 p.m.: Switzerland – Kazakhstan 3:2

• Wednesday, May 18, 7:20 p.m.: Switzerland – Slovakia 5:3

• Saturday, May 21, 3:20 p.m.: Canada – Switzerland 3:6

• Sunday, May 22, 7:20 p.m.: Switzerland – France 5:2

• Tuesday, May 24, 11:20 a.m.: Germany – Switzerland

• Thursday, May 26: Quarterfinals (opponents to be announced)

• possibly Saturday, May 28th: ​​semi-finals

• possibly Sunday, May 29th: small and large final