Empty Netters Podcast - The First Female Assistant Coach In NHL History with Jessica Campbell | 145

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

Jessica Campbell stops by to talk the guys through her experience being the biggest badass ever. First female assistant coach at Worlds. First female assistant coach in the AHL. Now first female assistant coach in the NHL. Hear all about how she dominated at Cornell and for Team Canada. And what she picked up along the way to make her the coach she is today. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE:    / @emptynetterspod   FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/empty.nette... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK:   / empty.netters   (0:00) - Intro(6:29) - College(16:24) - Team Canada(24:20) - Four Nations(28:12) - CWHL(37:10) - Philosophy(43:38) - Coaching(1:02:16) - Pass, Shoot, Score PRESENTED by BetMGM. Download the BETMGM app and use bonus code “AF200” and enjoy the “Bet 10 Get 200” offer on your first wager! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: BAUER. Bauer is the go to destination for all your training needs. Head to http://www.bauer.com/training to explore tools like the Digital Reactor Danger for stickhandling or the Reactor Slide Board to add strength to your stride.  CASHAPP. Download CashApp and take control of your finances! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cash-ap... FUNKAWAY. To check out the full family of FunkAway products go to http://www.funkaway.com to learn more funk’in cool stuff. And head over to Amazon right now and grab FunkAway products with just a few clicks.  FIREBALL . Fireball’s iconic cinnamon flavor tastes fire and goes down easy, making it the ultimate crowd pleasure. Go pick up some from your local liquor store and join us in drinking Fireball during our game days this season! #IgniteYourRivalry  EVERYMANJACK. Give Every Man Jack a shot today and go to http://www.everymanjack.com and use code “NETTERS” at checkout for 25% off your first order  CBDMD. Visit http://www.cbdmd.com to explore their extensive range of products and find the perfect solution for your needs. Don’t forget to use code “FRIDAY” at checkout to get 30% OF + Free Shipping.  DOLLAR SHAVE CLUB. Dollar Shave Club products are now available everywhere, so you can order from their website, Amazon, or get them at your favorite retailer near you. Visit their site right now for 20% off $20 or more, and get your products delivered right to your door. Visit http://www.dollarshaveclub.com/netters and use promo code NETTERS for 20% off $20 or more  CHOMPS. If you are looking for the PERFECT on the go snack that has zero grams of sugar and packed with high quality protein, then Chomps is for you. To learn more about Chomps, click here! http://www.chomps.com/emptynetters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been such a surreal journey because obviously for me, when I transitioned from playing to coaching, I just knew that when I decided coaching's for me or I decided that I was going to stay in this game and I didn't actually see what I'm doing now. Ice is ready and we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast brought to you by Bette MGM and we've got a special interview for you today. Dude, I wanted to do, like, last time you were like, it's smashing. Yeah. And I was like, is there like a spunking interview that I could come up with?

But I don't know that there is. You love the puns. Well, it's just fun. You could have gone like this after we say who it is. You could have said, and now let's crack on with the interview. Ooh, see, that's nice. See, that's really nice. I was also just thinking about going like, this interview has got spunk.

It does. This interview has got spunk. If you haven't figured it out, a member of the Seattle. Cracken is joining the pod today, but a very special one. Assistant coach, first female assistant coach in NHL history, in HL history. Heard of her, Jessica Campbell, joins the Anthony Netters podcast. I have not been this excited for an interview and a podcast in a long time. Oh my God, same. As long-time listeners, I hope know, first-time listeners, welcome. As long-time listeners, I hope know, we put a lot of time and effort into curating an interview for

that person and then like digging into their life and looking stuff up and asking their friends and our friends, et cetera, et cetera. Learning more about Jess before we interviewed her and then certainly during an interview is was a joy. Absolutely joy. Yeah, can happily say we love Jess. This was so fun. We'll kick it to the interview now so you can enjoy. Have a blast. All right. We are thrilled today to be joined by a Rokenville, Saskatchewan native, a three-time East A CAC champion, a world championship silver medalist, a U18 gold medalist, a U18 MVP, a four nation's gold medalist, the first rookie ever to captain an all-star game in the CWHL, a Clarkson Cup champion, and the first female assistant coach in NHL history.

Jessica Campbell, welcome to the empty-neudders podcast. Let's go. You just made me sound so much cooler than I am. See, I don't know. Disagree. I disagree. I think you are that cool. And here's the thing.

We didn't even talk about the Battle of the Blades. Yeah, I didn't even talk about the Silver Battle of the Battle of the Lick. So we're going to get into that right now and talk about how you are a runner-up in the battle of the blades. As long as we don't pull up footage. We don't want to see that footage again. Can you tell us about that? Oh, man. How was that?

Like you- I was. Yeah, give us the details. You guys, I was just telling Chandler Stevenson about COVID and how weird COVID was and how I ended up on a figure skating show and he's like wait what you're about the blades and i was explaining to him the whole production and yeah it was insane i mean once in a lifetime literally yeah yeah covid presented the opportunity i went into that whole thing with like completely an open mind of i could probably become a better skating coach if i do this like i've never skated on figure skates in my life. Like the true Canadian like born with hockey skates on my feet, like the

F word in our household was figure skating as a young kid. So like we didn't have, we didn't have the option. I was ultra-girly as a little girl too, love dresses and like I would have been able to convince my mom to put me on figure skates. So I would do that show for charity. I was totally sold but because it was COVID like I was more beaten up after that show physically than I've ever been in hockey. Wow. You're not kidding you after four months of figure skating. Wow.

What a stat. Also when did the, because I know they did, when did the competitive juices kick in? Like before, at first it was like, it's for charity and it's fun. And when we're in the final, when were you like, I'm winning this damn thing? Well, Chris Resteig started chirping like the second episode. in, I think. He was like, we're making this real. Yeah. And so then he started chirping and I'm like, okay, this is, then we're in hair and makeup. Then I started chirping him. Yep. Yeah. Oh yeah. And it got, it got pretty competitive

pretty quickly. Did you, but I don't know. Do you feel like you liked it maybe more than you thought you would have? Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. Like, it was, um, yeah, now we're talking so it was it was something that was so incredibly challenging to do like both mentally and physically like I just like imagine me challenging you to like you're going to learn the grand piano but in four days you're going to go on Canadian national television in front of your grandmother all of like even your clients your athletes are training all these players you coached and you're going to put on a figure skating dress you're going to have to dance with a partner who's going to lift you over their head you have to smile and look pretty well

while you do it like every four days. Yeah. So that was like the challenge of what the show was in itself was insane. But the, but it was also super fun because it was so hard and taxing. And I don't know, it's kind of a blend of like my athletic and feminine side that is kind of like being able to like embrace all of it

in such a like foreign world and doing it for charity made it like actually really special because you can kind of like, you know, you're competing but you're also like, this is for fun. We're raising, we're raising money. And yeah, I was, I was skating for youth mental health for DIFD, which is Luke Richardson's, um, his family's foundation for his daughter, the head coach there in Chicago. And I grew up going to college with his daughter. So like everything full circle, like it was special to do. Absolutely. I mean, crazy but special.

Yeah. Like it's that's one of those once in a lifetime opportunities during a crazy time. You got to take the reins. Why not? Yeah. It's amazing. Um, Chris went down your whole hit. and I want to talk about college, but before we get into the insane success that you girls had at Cornell, how did you end up at Cornell, being a Saskatchewan-born hockey player? Prairie girl, yeah.

You end up all the way over in Cornell. What was that process like? Did you have a bunch of schools that were kind of knocking on your door? Did you have ones that were at the top of your list? And then maybe Cornell came in in the last second. What was that decision-making process like? Yeah, that's a good question.

I honestly, the rules have changed a million times as we know from the NCAA of when you can like talk to me calls your first call then you can do your official visit all those things but recruitment was like a little bit more normal back then when I was this is in 2000 and gosh 10 2009 and so once that September or July 15th whatever date it was I can't even remember but of my like junior year in high school they could officially make calls or call you and so up until then I was receiving letters from honestly a lot of schools. Ivy League's the top NCAA programs. It was kind of like at that time I was in a good spot to kind of create my own path of where

did I want to go and had a lot of options. But I was I worked really, really hard in school, took a lot of pride in my academic. So it's kind of like if I can go Ivy League and get the best academic and hockey blend. I'm going to do that. So pretty quickly, it came down to Harvard and Cornell. I thought I was just going to go to Harvard. Because when you get your first letter in the ninth grade from Harvard, you're like, I'm going to Harvard.

Yeah. You know, Princeton was in that conversation. But I'll say this. My head coach, Doug at Cornell, total rock star, unbelievable coach, unbelievable human. He called me every week. I think they had seven days between that they could call it. called me on the minute scheduled every week.

Wow. So like my household landline. Like no one had cell phones. So I didn't have a cell phone, I guess. But I remember my mom's like, he's calling again, calling again to a point where I was like, this guy, I love him. I respected. But I was so annoyed.

I'm like, he won't stop calling. And then honestly, two, three months into the process, I'm like, I need to go to this school. This coach, like he desperately wants me to come to this school. and and in I don't know have you been to Ithaca, New York. It's obviously like, it's its own special place. And the school is like this little, you know, it's this big world in this little place. But you're in like the Cornell bubble.

And so when I, of course, naturally he scheduled me the very first date that I could go on a visit, I went to Cornell. He made sure that I was stepping foot on Cornell land, the very first chance I could. So my first official visit, I had a couple of teams. from hockey Canada that were there, that were Saskatchewan players. So I kind of had some familiarity with the team. But after I finished at Cornell, I toured Harvard next. And I was in the heart, well, for me, in the heart of Boston or arriving just in the

craziness of Boston. And I'm like, this small town kid needs to go to Cornell. Like I need to connect into three different airports, go crazy, trying to get here, make sure my family can't come visit me go the furthest way from home like all the things that like would be typical of growing up in Saskatchewan go to the most remote place

anyways it was totally the right decision I ended up canceling sadly I canceled my visits to Minnesota and Wisconsin and that's another story but now it was first one and done yeah I mean that's like take notes coaches that's how you recruit like props to Doug

that's beautiful stuff just when I almost went there and when I was on my visit the team and the coach and all these people were like yeah um in the winter some kids take the trays from dining hall and like sled down the hill for fun and i was like oh yeah all right i'm actually going to leave here but they have their own little bubble there and it's awesome they have such good time yeah i also really love well or go on jess go on no i was just saying in like the culture of all of the things that are specific like that's totally like that's a

recruiting story for sure of all the craziness that happens, which is like, because the insanity of Cornell is you're like stuck within your bubble. So that's what it is. And you go to other sports games and the men's hockey experience is like that's its own, its own great. But go ahead, Dan, what were you saying? Well, I was going to say I love, I mean, now talking to your success, obviously you win the ECAC three times freshman year, junior and senior year. Going out senior year with the ECAC championship is amazing. But I love with your story specifically, it sounds like it came down between Cornell and Harvard. And it's a nice cherry on top scoring the game-winning goal against Harvard your junior year

to win that ECAC championship. That's the moment where you're like, fuck, yeah, I made the right choice. Fuck you, Harvard. But you guys, obviously, I mean, you had so much success. Three out of four conference championships. Obviously, never got over the hump with the Natty, but you had great runs, that insane game against BU overtime, 8-7. Triple O-T, right?

Triple O-T, was it? Yeah, and, like, you guys were down so much and then up so much. I mean, holy moly. that that's unbelievable. So, you know, overall, both both your time there with your friends, with your teammates and just, I love that it sounds like you cared about academics. What, what do you have to say about Cornell? Like, was that just, you know, that picture perfect four year experience where you look back going, I, you know, couldn't have done or wouldn't have done anything differently? Yeah, I think honestly, and I will hardly believe it.

I would do it all the same way over again if I could. I think it was the best place for me. I studied communications and like now I use my degree every day like you know that was kind of the whole point was like for me at the time women's hockey was not in the place where like I could potentially foresee being being able to do this profession like I was still chasing the national team goal and all of that but beyond that it was like okay well part of the decision was like I've worked so hard academically like I'm trying to set myself up for success later in life and what makes the most sense. So to be on a good hockey team, to have great coaches that ultimately did get me to the senior team, it was just like the perfect, you know, full 360 degree, you know, support and

everything kind of was aligned perfectly. But I will say this, I gave up a lot of probably fun weekends having to be in the library. Like, you don't hear that from hockey players. Yeah. I will say this. Yeah. I was. Like, if I could take back some of those, I would have probably take it back some Sundays and had a little bit more fun. But I mean, come on, Jess. You can always make it up. D stands for degree. People need to hear that.

You know, it's the same thing. Absolutely correct. What's your favorite? When you look back on that time, what's your favorite game? Because you were in some doozies. What's your favorite game from Cornell? Probably the one you just said, like that you eight, seven game. Yeah.

I won't forget that game for so many reasons. We came out, honestly, in like the first five, 10 minutes, we were down for nothing. Yeah. And we're hosting that game. And like, they had superstars on their team too. Like Marie-Philip Poulin and Jen Wakefield, they had all like, they had some rock star players that obviously, and we had a stacked roster too. But so it was literally like, Team Canada dissected into two different teams and like playing against each other. Like that's literally what we were plotted against.

So the fact we were down. for nothing in the first like whatever and our starting goal he was in and um i i scored a short-handed goal in the last like minute of that first period and we went in for one and then the rest of the game was like we scored two they scored one we scored another one they scored two it was like back and forth and so many people commented on that game like that was the best game and women's college hockey and then all the critics were like that was the lack of goaltending and the worst defense we've ever seen. But like right till the very head, like triple overtime.

And in fact, like, Dada, you say this, you know, you know the Cornell, you know, line a total energy atmosphere. The men were playing right after us. We had back-to-back for scheduled games. So all their fans had trickled in. So we had the full packed arena with like the newspapers and the whole crazy chabang of the fan base. So like coming into triple overtime, it was like the most serious. real environment I've ever been a part of.

Yeah. Like we were so gassed. I'll never forget how we felt in the locker room. We were celebrating. Our feet were up on our stalls. Our legs were up because we had nothing left. And one of our, she was one of my favorite teammates.

She didn't play much in the game. But come third overtime, like we needed coaching her to play. Obviously, like no one had anything left. I just remember her hopping over the bench. And it was like she was like Connor McDavid out there. Yeah, yeah. Everyone was moving so slow and she was flying.

And anyways, by the time, like, would we won that game? I fell. Like, I was on the ice for the winning goal. I, like, fell at the blue line. There's like an awful clip of me, like, swinging my stick. And, like, somehow the puck goes into the news. She was on our defenseman goes end to end and dangles another defenseman on the national team and puts it in the net. Like, he was absurd.

Yeah. But to be. On that side of it, it was unreal, so I'll never forget that. To take us to the Frozen Four, too. Yeah. How is that not? Your favorite. I think that is so electric.

Holy shit. You were talking about Team Canada experience, and you've had many chances to wear the national team jersey now, and got a lot of hardware out of it, too, which is fantastic. And I have a few questions for you, but my first one, if you don't mind talking about it, can you just say a little bit about what it means to you to even put on that sweater, considering you had tried out a few times, like you were saying, you had that support system, didn't get picked, and then you finally get picked for the senior team in 2014 on the anniversary of your brother's passing. Just talk about the emotions of all of that for you, if you would.

Yeah, of course. I mean, oh, it's so crazy. Like, you know this. Like, in your adult years, you can always, like, connect dots backwards, right? But in the time, like, nothing ever really makes sense or things are happening and aligning and all different reasons. and I, you know, I strategically went to Cornell for a reason, and part of it was something we didn't talk about. The head coach sat me down on my recruiting visit and said, what are your goals beyond college? And I said, I want to make the national team.

And I want to, you know, pursue a great career someday. But he said, okay, great, we're a fantastic college career, but I'm going to help you get to the national team. And so, like, over those four years, I kept getting invited back to the senior team. and I was with the U-22 and the U-18 and I kind of like peaked early, I think, in my years. Like I was, you know, a top player at U-18s and then was a pretty good player through college, but I peaked really early, I think.

And so it was kind of trying to find ways to like almost unlock areas of my game through those four years of college to then eventually like be a player that could crack the senior team. And so though I was like getting cut year after year, I was going to camp and you kind of get sent home with the same message. Like, you're not there yet. And I kept like, you know, going back and working at it. And then so after I graduated college, I sat down with my coach, same thing.

And he's like, what's next? And I'm like, I don't know if I should go for it or not. And he's like, what do you have to lose? Like go for it one more year, go to camp, go in with that mentality. Like you had a fantastic, you know, two last years. I think you're right where you need to be. And so I honestly like shift my focus on the like yet like when is it going to be for me. And I went in completely into camp just had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

And this was my last crack at it. And I played the best I ever played at camp. I was scoring. I was I was just I was showing up the way I wanted to show up. And so crazy enough like when I got the call Thanksgiving weekend, I was back home with my family. Usually we tried to obviously is a difficult time of year. we tried to get together for Thanksgiving and I'll never forget it. Like when I got the phone call and, you know, I can't even remember exactly what was said.

I almost like blacked out. I was just so overtaken by every emotion. And that was it. That was ultimately the goal. And I didn't obviously crack the Olympic roster, but to make the senior team and to kind of achieve that milestone for me was huge. And to do it and to like get that call on the same day. it was just like full circle.

I'm like I've been, you know, my brother's motivation was a big part of, you know, how I played and the player I tried to show up as and just constantly used like his legacy and his memory to be a better person, to be a great player and honor his name. So I get to say yes and join the team and gosh, it was crazy. Like think back to it. It takes me back right back to that moment. That not being, I have chills. right now. Like I love those stories of

you saying you went to camp and played the best that you ever have. It's like those are storybook moments, you know, where it's like, this is the last go I'm going to give it, and then you absolutely dominate, and then you get that phone call. That shit is amazing. On that day, what an accomplishment. Oh, it's amazing. Whoever believes people are looking out for you, how could you not in that exact moment? And then just some

awesome ones to talk about in that jersey. The U-18, you scored an OT goal. to win a gold medal. First team Canada women's gold in U-18 ever. So tell us about that. And then tell us about two four nations. We got one coming up this year.

And you were in two tilts against you. Seriously. Jesus Christ. Shoot out win, OT loss, but chaos. So talk about that U-18 moment and the four nations for us. Yeah.

I mean, U-18s was like you're just so young and you're putting on the Maple Leaf for the first time. And like I think, like I said, in high school, I had kind of separating speed from the others around me so I could really use it to my advantage and I felt like I was

you know very offensive in those years and was utilized in every scenario I was the captain of that team and so I was like just such an honor to be like one representing my country but to like lead that team and right before we went into overtime it was I was actually was my worst game of the tournament and I remember being like I got to pull my shit together like we're going to overtime I'm here and I've probably turned the puck over twice. That led to goals against. Like, I got to get my shit together. Anyways, we went into the locker room, going into overtime.

We had a huge, like, comeback late goal. And we're in Chicago, right? And so we have like half the arena. No, not even half the arena, but like the Canadian core group is just like stuck at the corridor. My parents are there. I hadn't even seen my mom yet. She like flew in from the middle of nowhere in Saskatchewan,

connected a million times was delayed, got in just like for game time. And so I'd like thinking of that moment, like we're obviously from all over the country. And this is like, you know, those teams, those tournaments are just like, this is the roster. These are you kind of become instant best friends in those moments. And you go on back to your respective teams and places and where you're from. But I just, we had a moment where we like, we all stood up together. And I remember just we had this like team song or something. We all stood up together.

We had a moment. And it was like, we're winning this thing. We're going out and we're winning this thing. I think it was the first or second shift, actually. We did. It was the goal went in, but it was still a blur. Like it was a developing play and I just remember being like, again, I got to get my shit together. Went to the net, tipped a goal in.

The next thing you know, I couldn't breathe it on the bottom of a pile. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my God, that's amazing. But beating US for the first time like on their territory, it was, that was pretty, surreal. Yeah, yeah. Take it easy. Don't rub it in.

All right, all right. Yeah, we could go further with that one if you want. Oh, yeah, seriously. And then Four Nations. Was that a cool,

was that a really cool experience? Yeah, Four Nations is awesome too because you just had the best, like the best four European top teams, right, competing against each other. And it was the first, like, tournament of the year that you could showcase yourself to actually make the World Championships roster.

Yeah. So my experiences at Four Nations were positive because I had good showings and it led to me making the four nation or the world championship rosters as well. But yeah, those tournaments are short and quick and you just like it's it's such a big part of the whole process. Like it is such a huge thing in the women's game like summer camps, fitness testing, like they're always monitoring you. You have these camps, these training camps, these tournaments and like every chance you can to prove yourself like I think there's what, a 0.002% chance in Canada of making the national team.

But just the numbers of girls playing hockey in Canada, yeah, it's crazy. So I just, anytime I got to put on the jersey, I didn't care what the tournament was. I'm just like, I'm going to live this dream out to the fullest and appreciate every moment, every tournament, every game. And I have, you know, so many great memories of representing my country. Yeah. Speaking of the Four Nations, do you think, you know, this year doing it in place of the All-Star game, Do you feel like the vibes are there?

Like there's kind of anticipation building already. Do you see any of the guys, you know, talking about it? And do you think that's going to be that same level of intensity, even though it's in the middle of the NHL season? I mean, I hope so. Like, it's, I think it's going to be something, obviously, right? Because it's different. And I think it's just going to be unreal.

I think it's going to be an unreal way to showcase, like, showcase the All-Stars, to be honest. Totally. Like, get a way where they can, like, all come together represent their countries like that's the best like it's going to embrace the whole that like totally and like some of like obviously you think about Canada, US like we put ourselves in our own category but like Sweden and Germany and I've had the opportunity of working in both those country coaching like all they live for and grow up and is

like representing the Swedish national team and the German national team like those guys take so much pride and being part from like coming from those countries specifically. So to me, like just seeing the representation on the world stage in their respective country is like you just can't beat it. I think it's going to be unreal. Yeah, I completely agree. All right, guys, by now you know we have joined up with BetMGM for the entire season because they are the best sports betting app in the game. Every single need that you possibly have, BetMGM has you covered. And they're taking care of you right now.

If you sign up with AF 200 when you download the app and make an account, we're doing an unbelievable bet get situation. If you bet $10 on any sporting event, you're going to get $200 in bonus bets right into your account. So pick hockey if you want, pick NFL if you want, pick Champions League Soccer if you want. Make that $10 bet at the minimum, and you're going to get $200 of bonus bets right into your account. No other sports betting app is taking care of you the way BetMGM is. CP and I got bets all day long, all week long. We're getting all the action. a bit of a heater right now. So make sure you join in on the fun with us, checking out the page

all the time for all of our picks and get in on the action on all the other sports you want because that deal is the best in the game. Bet MGM is the best in the game. Sign up today. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gand-Gandler, available in the U.S. 300 3-75050-50 on Massachusetts, 21-plus only in Arizona, Colorado, D.C., Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800 next step in Arizona. First bet offer for new customers only, subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. See betmGM.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in Ontario and Puerto Rico. Got to talk to you guys really quick about our awesome partnership with CBDMD.

I love these guys. They are absolutely changing the game for me when I'm out and about, frankly, in my entire life. Because we can all use a little bit more focus. We could all sleep a little bit better. We could all relax a little bit better. And I'm doing CBD's got everything. They've got gummies. They've got every droplet you could ever imagine.

But what I'm really loving is the THC drink mixer. because like I said, it's actually changing. It's revolutionized my timeout. 28 servings per bottle of this stuff. There's black cherry flavor. There's unflavored. How much sugar? Zero.

How many carbs? Zero. It's vegan. It's gluten-free. Okay? And it's three milligrams of THD and three milligrams of CBD in there. Pop it in my drink and have myself an absolute time. I'm doing it when we're hanging.

I'm doing it in watching hockey. I'm doing it on the golf course. It's just the dream set up for me. Because they want the dream set up for you, if you go to CBDMD.com and use promo code Friday, that's F-R-I-D-A-Y, you get 30% off and you're going to get free shipping. That's 30% off and free shipping. That is not a joke. Okay, so we are partnered up with CBD-M-D right now. You need to be partnered up with CBD-M-D right now. All right, babe, taking a quick break to talk to you about our partner's Lucy. Lucy is a scientifically crafted, unbelievable nicotine service that is always tobacco-free for. adults and giving you some of the best flavors in the game and some of the best

nicotine delivery systems that you could ever imagine Lucy has got gum they've got lozenges they've got pouches they've got breakers it's unbelievable whatever you want you got it and they've got a great range when it comes to milligrams sometimes you want a little buzz you can go with the four sometimes you want to get real juiced up and feel all tingly and they go all the way up to 12 Lucy is taking care of your nicotine needs any way you want it me myself I'm a big golf course guy I like to get dialed in. I like to go birdie hunting. And what's the best way to do that for me is when I get down, maybe onto that back nine, starting to get a little tired, I throw in a Lucy pouch,

and I am buzzing, literally and metaphorically. Lucy takes care of my needs, whether you need a little bit of energy, whether you need to focus up, or whether you want to just lay back on the couch and chill out. Lucy is the best decision you could possibly make when it comes to nicotine. It's delicious, and like I said, those flavors are amazing. I'm not a coffee drinker, but for some reason, I love the flavor and the taste of coffee. Lucy has an espresso flavor. Are you kidding me? We're in November.

It's fall. They got a cinnamon flavor. They got apple ice. All the best things going on. Go to lucy. com slash Friday. And you're going to get 20% off your next order. So stock up because you know you need it.

You know you want it. And Lucy is the best way to do it. You mentioned earlier talking about, you know, after you finished up at Cornell, you kind of had conversations with people about what to do now. and, you know, after all this playing for the national team, having such success at Cornell, you wind up in Calgary playing for the Inferno and the C-dub. And at the time, that's the best women's hockey league in North America.

You come in there, like Chris said earlier, your rookie year, you're captaining the All-Star team, which is absurd. And then in 2016, you bring home Calgary's first Clarkson Cup and pummel Montreal 8 to 3. Boom. So I want to hear about the C-dub. What was it like playing? And then also, at this point, do you kind of have, when you're in Calgary, when you're playing for the Inferno and you get that championship, you get that Clarkson Cup, how much of you is like, all I do is win? Because it's like you have all those titles in the ECAC. And I mean that in a good way. It's like you clearly, it shows in your coaching and the fact that you've been a captain on so many of these teams, you are a part of a lot of huge victories in the teams that you've played for. And how much do you, I How much of that do you think becomes almost an addictive element of your game when it's like,

listen, like we're here, we're having fun, we're playing the game that we love, but we're going to win. Like, let's get this done. Gosh, you guys are way nicer than I heard. I mean, I'm just like, I feel like I've failed so much more along the way that I've succeeded. Like truly, I mean, maybe we're just, we always remember things of the tried times of the process. but I'm ultra-competitive. Like if you know, you want to say let's go play pickleball, I'm like, let's go. I'm going to go find the best racket, new shoes, let's go.

I don't know how to play pickleball, but bad example of like my approach to everything I do. It was the same way as a player. Like I was just all in, all in all the time. And to a point where like I injured myself in college, I broke my wrist at Cornell, like just running into the wall in practice after I got back from Europe. It's like I forgot that the rink size changed or something. Like I was all in everything I did, crash and bird mentality. But I think it honestly, it definitely helped me find success in the game as a player,

as a leader on all the teams I was part of. I was proud to be on, you know, a winning team or to create winning cultures. But I think even more so now I appreciate those years as a, as a coach because you take a little piece of every one you meet, right? Like coaches, teammates, you take the good, you take the bad, and then you're really shaped into like now in the position that I'm in as a coach. Like who do I want to be? Who do I want to show up every day?

And like that ultra competitive mindset is still being really grounded and who I am and how I approach my work, how I approach the guys, but I wouldn't trade in any of those years. And you don't remember the championships. Like you really don't. You know, I don't even know where my medals are. I think my mom has in the closet and keep safe somewhere at home. But like my medals are somewhere, but you remember each team. Like you can tell me that U-18, 2010 medal.

I can literally go left to right, every player in the locker room who is on that team. And I don't know where they are in life, all of them now, but you remember the people. And so I'm just like, I think back to all of those times, those years, winning, losing. funny enough you say it like I'm at the brook street hotel in Ottawa where we stayed both years back to back years when we won to see wichel and then lost the final year like it was so odd coming back here full circle yesterday I'm like I've been here like we want a we want a cup here we like celebrate over that little bar over there after like this is where it all happened just like I was spraying champagne on that wall just a few years ago this is crazy yeah we just rode by

to the bus I'm telling Dave that same story. I was actually just about to lead into that. What was life like in the Cdub? Like, where you, because I mean, we've had,

we've had the pleasure of having a bunch of the gals on the Pdub teams and talking about how, you know, some of them are still working other jobs while they're playing. Were you guys working? Were you living together? Were you hanging out? And,

you know, like we just said, were you guys ripping it up and partying after winning championships? Like, give us some of the lifestyle vibes. Yeah. Honestly, oh, man.

I mean, aside for like the, the level of the players that were in the league were all national team players. Like we had the best players in that league. And honestly, it would be the same, same quality of league as the PWHL is now in terms of pulling players from all the national teams, the top college players making those teams. The only difference was we were not paid to be there.

So we had to fundraise. We had to do all kinds of crazy things, which is so sad to talk about now. but that was the reality of how far we've come. Like I will never forget. We were obviously, I was part of the national team program. So like I had,

you know, sticks provided, equipment provided. But I remember like sharing my sticks with my teammates, my line mates. Like you want to use my curve and flux? This one will work for you.

Like literally I'm not kidding. Like we would spare our own stuff that we were given extra because like the team budgets were so limited. To the players that were working full-time jobs. We practiced at like 9 p.m. at night, twice a week.

And if you were with the national team, you had skill sessions in addition to that provided. But like we were training like true professional athletes every morning, every day. Then half of our team were going to work their full-time jobs. And then we'd come together at night. It was like honestly like adult beer league hockey type hours that we were given. But also our coaching staff was working full-time jobs.

And they were like pretty much volunteers. They were probably given a little bit of stiff-ins to like coach us. and they were great coaches. But times are really, like, thinking back now, like we kind of chuckle and laugh, like the good old days. Like, it was literally, we had to do so many different things. And, I mean, I do remember, too, like, one of the things I think about now and just, like, think about how far the women's game has come,

we had to put on, like, 50-50 raffle aprons and raise money, fundraise at the Flames games in like the booster clubs like give out our season yeah like that was real life that was less than 10 years ago uh man like things like that so like you just appreciate so much how far and like people sponsored us people gave us money for sure and like there are some true supporters of the women's game but other than world championships in the olympics it was like the women's hockey kind of got forgotten in those years in between um so yeah times are times of I'm so proud now that these girls are making a living because they they have always have been true pros that treat their training, their work, the job. Just we kind of always chuckled back when I played like back check, board check, no paycheck.

And so like now that's not a thing. That is amazing. Yeah, we could laugh. It was real time. But yeah, no, you're right. It's awesome that you were part of, you know, building the foundation that allows the P.D. to be where it is today. I mean, it is, it's, it's a shame that you had to kind of go through those grinding years,

but at the same time, probably some amazing memories in that run. And now to say that you were a huge part of what it's become now is, is unbelievable. Love that. Yeah, and I'll say this, the last thing, like for me, I actually, I was working. I was, I was a communications director. I was volunteering at a child abuse center in Calgary. And I was actually my, my boss or, my boss was Sheldon Kennedy. So from just what I was doing on the ice and skating and training every day, like when I wasn't at the rink, I was bored.

I was coming out of college where like we had a full schedule of, you know, those were my early years out of college. I was looking for things to do and to apply myself. And obviously with everything Sheldon stood for and his, obviously, his advocacy and his whole journey in life and everything he came through, I felt like I was gifted such a strong leader and mentor as a young professional. Like now the coach in me appreciates those years where like I was training full time, but then after practice I would go volunteer and then it became a full-time job. And I was going all around the city through through season and in the summers, raising money, supporting Sheldon, doing a bunch of communications, PR stuff for him.

Just honestly, like advocacy and child abuse prevention, like really good stuff in the community that I also are such, you know, incredible years for me in my development as a, as a professional. So cool. Yeah, that's amazing. Jess, you said something about coaching philosophy that I thought was so eye-opening that I wanted to ask you about. And you mentioned this earlier today, but that your skating was always your huge strength, you know. And when you're thinking about weaknesses as a player, you wanted to work on weaknesses to try to become a more all-round player. But as sports psychologist, I believe it was, said to you in a scene.

of incredibly talented players don't lose sight of what makes you special, right? And keep building on that, keep expanding on that, because how else are you going to separate yourself? And that is something that's stuck with you, something you ask your players, what do you do best? What has that philosophy gotten out of the players in your eyes? How has that worked for you? Honestly, I think for me, it's a huge piece of what I do. all of different ways I think you try to access a player right like establishing or respect and a

trust with a player early on is crucial like that's that's our job as coaches is we're trying to connect with them and understand them as people first and foremost and and I think that's honestly I'm proud and I think like the values that I've tried to stick true to as a person and as a coach had like led me to my professional success and got me to this point and something that that example you just talked about helping a player identify and really stamp down that blueprint of who they are at their best like it's a remarkable activity if you just sit with someone and ask them like tell me who you are at your best like if i had to ask you right now give me the 10 best qualities of yourself like it's actually hard to do because like we know who we are and for sure we have

confidence in like our ability and our you know our knowledge and certain things but like to actually write that down and then to like live that out there's a little bit of like well there's a lot of accountability in it there's there's also a huge space for empowerment like that's kind of a vulnerable conversation and so I find you know sitting with a player and I've already done it here in Seattle I did it all through my time in Coachella it feels a lot more like sports psych in ways but exactly that like who are you at your best what makes you you how do we consistently see this version of you every night like how do you feel when you're at your best how do you operate when you're at your best how do you how do you like to be coached like what types of things do you need

do you need a pat on the back or do you need like a hard tough love like you can fucking be better yeah like and but it comes from a place of love and care and um i think just being in the trenches with them and so i think that question at that sports like you know asked me at such a pivotal time Like I was so much, I would take feedback or I would take feedback so critically and I would go down a rabbit hole of like, oh, I have to do this. I'd work my shot or something. And all I would do is shoot puck, shoot puck, shoot puck. And I remember checking in and when they asked me that, like, what makes you you? I'm like, my skating.

And they're like, so when did you work on your skating last? I'm like, I didn't think I needed to. Yeah, right. But now that you say it, it's like that's what separates you or for me. That's what's separated me from the pack. And like, the more you shy away from working at your best game, the quicker you can fall, you know, start trending away from yourself. And so my job, I just find it's the best activity is to sit with a player and make sure

they know that you see who they are at their best. They know who they are at their best. And now you can approach every single day from a place of honesty, respect, communication can be clear. They know you have their best interest and that you're in the trenches with them every single day. That's a huge part of who I am as a coach. Yeah, it's amazing. How often do you feel like you see their confidence coming out more and more with that approach? Because I just think it's such a unique and important approach now. Like the sports psych element of it is just such a good way to

tap into their mentality. And we were talking to Philip Forsberg a couple weeks ago when you're in a rut and you're not scoring and you're a goal scorer. We kind of asked him, how do you get out of those? What are things that you practice? And it must be awesome for you as a coach to see. see these players that you're working with when you tell them, hey, focus on the thing that you're great at and then watching them excel with that mentality. That must be the coolest feeling in the world for you. Yeah, it's, it is. Honestly, it's pretty cool. And I think I can confidently say that when I've done these activities or usually start that way with the players or try to identify a time or a moment where like, yes, they're in a rut, they're struggling, sit with

them, you know, have that conversation, almost immediately. I'm not, I'm not kidding. Almost immediately the next game, fucks at the back of the net. Or like, you immediately see results. And it's this total shift. Like, I mean, I had this conversation with Maddie Baneers, I don't know, five games ago. He hadn't scored yet. And boom, next game, two goals broke through it. Like, it's not about that conversation, but I think it's all about empowerment and feeling. And all of a sudden, they're reminded. And it's like some of that weight. just goes like like yeah I can make those plays I make those plays 98% of the time like just has to like click or almost it's like a space in time where they can forget about all of the

like you know challenges or the turnovers or all of the things that are not going their way in that moment just kind of like dissipates and they're back on track so I think it's huge and you see you see the shift pretty quickly that's usually just a hard reset button yeah I love that It's amazing. Awesome. You know, now that we're talking about coaching, you obviously take the switch into coaching, and then you've just continued to break that ceiling and have a list of first that are so amazing. You start in high school, and then in 2021, you're the assistant coach of the German men's national team at the world championship.

Unbelievable. Then 2022, you're in Coachella, first female assistant coach of the Firebirds in the HL, another first. And now here we are in the NHL. It's unbelievable. But in Coachella, you're working with Balsma, who is such a great coach, such an amazing guy. What has the experience been like for you since you've taken this jump into coaching men's and just being the first so many times to doing what you're doing? And no doubt there are, I'm sure, moments where, you know, the imposter syndrome creeps in, where you're thinking like, God, am I good enough for this? And, you know, can I do this?

Are people taking me seriously? And, you know, you don't have to name names, but who are some voices or some personalities? in the space that really kind of helped you make sure you knew how great of a job you're doing, which you absolutely are. So how has that journey been these last few years? Oh my God, you've touched on so many different thoughts and topics. And I guess the first thing I'll say is like it's been it's been such a surreal journey because obviously for me when I transitioned from playing to coaching, I just knew that when I decided coaching's for me or I decided that I was going to stay in this game and I didn't

actually see what I'm doing now, to be honest. I love teaching skating. I knew I loved being on the ice and I had a different approach and philosophy to teaching skating specifically. And I found myself kind of like organically going down this path and almost like people talked about like breaking barriers and I get that question a lot of what that was like I'm like I was almost like going through that on the own process because I was proving to myself as I was just like sharing my passion and my love for teaching and being on the ice I was I was kind of afforded

and gifted like new opportunities with like higher level players and traveling to Europe and like a new challenge every for happen quickly was like every six months I almost had like a platform to like prove myself as a person and as a coach. So what I got to world championships and then when Dan hired me with Coachella, after world championships, I had nothing. Like I returned back and I was going to potentially sign a contract in Switzerland in the top league. But I wanted to stay in Germany because that's like I was just, my heart was there at that

time. I was with the German national team. I was going to go out to Yale. There was probably three or four teams where. the ownership team didn't want to hire me because I was strictly because I was female. I'm not kidding you. That was the coaching staff interviewed.

I want to do this, but it was strictly like ownership and management, won't name teams, but I was so like lost and how am I actually going to stay in this league? Like I want to be at this level. I've now proved to myself I can work at this level. I was working with NHLers in the offseason,

skating with, you know, a number of players, both rookie players and veterans. veteran players. I knew my messaging and my approach was hitting. I was confident. So when I did get those nose over and over and over, like you do. You start to feel like that imposter feeling of like maybe I don't belong in the space or like maybe it's just going to be that much harder for me and I have to keep plugging away at this. And usually success kind of silences the noise or that's usually eventually what can lead to the next opportunity. So I guess full circle when I got

an opportunity to go to Switzerland. It just didn't feel like the right fit. For me and that team specifically just didn't feel right in that moment. I don't exactly want to give reasons why, but it just knew it wasn't right. So I said no, and I still had no other job

technically on a team level lined up. So I was like, well, I'll go back to doing what I do. I'll stick at it. I'm sure I'll get another opportunity or I'll just keep working out and find a way. And kid you not, A day later, I'm sitting in Vegas in the Cosmopolitan lobby, and I'm on my email going to run a USHL futures camp.

And so I'm like, you know, it's Vegas. So the setting's a little odd, smell like cigarettes and everything. And I'm just trying to get myself ready to go to the rink. And I get this random, like, email to my power skating website from, and Mary Beth, his wife, all their initials combined his personal email, just like two sentences, coaching inquiry, interested in having. a conversation with Jessica Campbell about coaching position.

Like that's it. Dan Balzma, I'm like, what? Dan Balzma? I'm like, I'm spelling this, right? Yeah. Yes, this is Dad Balzma. Is this a different Dan Balzma? So I respond.

I'm like, okay, this could be spam. But we laugh about it now. But yes, you reached out and, you know, what's interesting that you said is like that feeling of like you start, you can doubt yourself in any job in any space. I think, like, success, obviously leads to more confidence as you fail along the way or pivot. Like, for sure, you could start to doubt yourself. But I think for me, what keeps me grounded every day and where I'm at and every team in the step that I've taken,

whether there's, you know, working in Europe to the AHL level to now getting here and doing it on this stage, I've always come back to day one doing the work myself. and I had to start my business on my own, you know, come up with my own brand. It wasn't about my brand. It was about who I showed up as a coach every day. My product of my on-a skates, what that experience was like, the impact, you know, where they, like I was critically, like, so important for me that the guys were getting better or that they were receiving good feedback. And just that the material and the curriculum that I was putting forward was, was, was, was, this level to meet the needs of them being you know impact NHL players so I was always striving

to just be the best coach that I could be and I think my time in running my business I was proving to myself that I could do it at this level on a team setting but I was plucking away one player at a time and as the numbers started to grow um I've said this recently to the Toronto and Montreal media like I I wholeheartedly believe now my confidence from the players at the time giving me the permission to believe that I belonged here by showing up for me, by showing up for my skates, by paying for my services. And so when those thoughts of imposter syndrome start to trickle in or, you know, you start to like go five games in a row, the power play is not scoring.

You're like, how do I get this thing back going? You start to like go back to the drawing board. That's what I'm like, no. Like, save thing with the player. It's like, I don't want to do it. Like just go keep with it, keep push it. It's eventually just going to turn right around. And that's the game of hockey, right?

So every single chapter from playing to coaching specifically, I've taken a piece of all of that. And I think it's really shaped and helped me to be ready for this job, be prepared every day, every day to be at this job and at the level that the NHL demands and calls for, really. Yeah. No, and it's so, it's just so amazing to hear. And, you know, I know you've heard this before, but your journey and the way you've battled and earned every opportunity is just so good for young girls who are thinking about coaching. It's, it's good for anyone in the space or other

spaces who are just kind of fighting an uphill battle, it feels like, and they need to find ways to believe in themselves. And, you know, I hope you know that opportunities don't come from luck. They come from your your hard work and doing a good damn job you know and like you have done that so it's why all of these things come it's why that almost spam email from dan bilesma comes in it's because you're great at what you do and it's really awesome is insane i don't know if everybody knows that story the timing of that is unbelievable and the bravery by the way to turn down that yes job oh oh my after getting all those nose and getting that offer and you don't have to get into it but you know whatever wasn't feeling right that is so thank god it didn't feel right

And here's the difference between me and Jess. Jess turns that job down and is in the Cosmo lobby grinding on some talky clinic. I'm at the Cosmo Craps tables when the email comes in. Trying to figure out. You're trying to make some more money so you can have extra scratch while in Switzerland. Yeah, yeah. I got no job. I got to make it all on the craps table.

I miss the email because I'm on a heater, you know, and then I lose that later and I'm not coaching anyway. So that is just. So the message is, be like Jess. Don't be like us. Oh, boy. I don't know. Jess, you just said talking about any promotion, there's stress, right? When you get to, when it becomes the NHL job and it's like, okay, here we go.

Were you able to compartmentalize it like, well, like you just said, it's another six months, another new challenge? It's fine. It's another new challenge. This is what the path I was on. Or was there like, holy fuck. Because now we're at maximum eyeballs and everything. How did you deal with that mentally? Yeah, first game where you like, where you sitting on the bench like, holy shit.

Yeah. This is happening. Okay. So this is funny. I even asked this question. So like the one thing about the American Hockey League is the schedule, the demands and even my first year in the HL. I think I had more of those moments my first year in the HL. Really?

Then I necessarily feel now. And it's totally 100%. It's the largest stage in the game and in the world. So of course, like I feel. all the emotions of the responsibility that comes with my work and the team and my job. So I feel all those emotions, but the night before the home opener, my family all came to town, my best friends came to town. I had all the girls over and went for dinner.

And one of what of I, she was my line mate, Bailey Brown, she's total gem. She's just like, Jess, like, you're way too chill right now. I'm freaking out about tomorrow. And I was like, why are you freaking out? She's like, well, I mean, like, you're just, you're like super calm. Like, are you nervous? Like, I'm nervous. I'm like, I'm like, no.

I mean, for me, it's honestly, it's just another day at my job. Like, when you've already done two even count playoff run seasons to the very end, it's like I haven't really taken a break from going to the rink every day, to be honest, in three years. Yeah. Like, suburbs, you kind of blink and they're gone and you're back in another hockey season. And so I'm like, I've been at this and so deep in the work and the video and all of like you, you ask any player that turns to coaching eventually. You have no idea the demands and how many hours the coaches put in.

And I love it. Like I never feel like I'm working nine to five, probably working nine to nine or 16 hour days sometimes. But you just, you don't feel how much you're in it. And so when you come to those moments and they're like behind, for me, opening night behind the bench. I was more so overtaken by the emotions of what everybody else was feeling as part of that moment. Totally. Because it's like it's true. And you might have heard this analogy before, but like when you're in the glass bottle,

it's hard to like, you don't know what the label is. You don't know what people see or how they see it from the outside. You're like you're in it. You're stuck in it. And so I've been so much in it and focused on what I'm doing in it that the reception and the feel and the emotions on the outside, I kind of like. I have to compartmentalize those things like you said. And being behind the bench at the opening night,

I was like, wow, this is the National Hockey League. Like this production, all of this is unbelievable, right? But I still approach my work every single day, as it just another day at the rink,

another day at the job. And that keeps me really grounded and level-headed to not like ride the waves of the crazy emotions at hockey presents of itself. Yeah. And I mean, I do want to point out, I think it's,

you know, this journey, as we've said a bunch of times now has just been so awesome to watch and I can't imagine the roller coaster it's felt like for you but you know as fans and as as people who think it's so incredible what you've done and what you've already accomplished it's pretty sweet seeing all those moments where you know I hope you've noticed after every game it feels like all these coaches around the league are taking their time to come up to you give you a hug congratulate you say how good of a job you're doing because that doesn't happen often and and that's you know sure yes you are breaking

as the first female assistant coach in the NHL. But I think that speaks more to the incredible job you're doing. And it's also really cool for us talking to guys in the league, like Mo Cider is obsessed with you. Yeah, yeah. Like truly the greatest coach of all time. And then, you know, we had Montor on and he's like, Jess is amazing.

This is so cool. So it's just like the impact and the footprint that you're already leaving on the National Hockey League is electric. It's so cool. Jeez, I appreciate that. I mean, I don't know. I think, you know, I'm obviously, I'm more different and new to the guys than perhaps how I see them. Like I just, yeah.

I just see them as a person that has incredible gifts and talent. And so how I approach them from a place of care and respect and this is awesome. Like every, every player, I mean, I think about our team, but you bring up most cider. I'm like, I get to work with them at World Championships. Like, how can I, how can I have an impact on most cider? what things like oh he loves being on the ice he loves working on his game awesome let's do stuff pre-year post practice like little skills work little details that just like things that we can you know relish in together and i don't know you if you i've just been a huge believer and like stick

true to your guns like what makes you um and really only good can come of it and i think that's just like that's how i operate as a person that's how i try to show up every day and i respect people that really walk the talk, right? Because at the end of the day, then you can be proud of what you leave behind or the impact you have. And for sure, like, you can't make everybody happy and especially in coaching when you're having to make decisions. But ultimately, I think honesty and communication. And I've had also now been able to leverage my relationships with players that I've worked with, like Brent Seabrook, great mentor to me. Like obviously he's out of the game now. He's still coaching his kids and stuff for Shea Weber. Like those guys I talk to regularly. And,

And friends just always like, hey, like, when you're having to make tough decisions on the power play, go right up and talk to them. Like, I'll never forget those coaches that like gave me, like, even if I hated them in that moment, didn't want to know why, but need to know why. Like, I walked away better for it. And then I actually respected that coach even more and wanted to play harder for that coach. Yeah. Because it's like, you know, and anything in life, like honesty is hard to come by. And so just having really good mentors and also leveraging and relying on the guys that I've created good, you know, strong relationships. relationships within bonds.

Like, hey, if I'm, like, stuck and, you know, don't know how to handle the situation, I'm calling those guys. Like, what's the right approach to this? Like, you've been through it. You walk through it on every different level and had success along the way. So, I mean, Mo is a special one. You know, Monty's also, he's a special one, too. Those are, that's awesome.

That's amazing. It's amazing. Jess, the squad, I actually have my, I don't know if you can see, but I have my Seattle Spunk. Oh, sweet. So two years ago, we got really behind the boys. And we were like in the preseason or in the playoff predictions, we were like, I don't know, that Seattle squad's got spunk. I'm into this.

And then they had the great run, upset the abset the aves in seven, unbelievable. And then, you know, last year a bit of a step back. And then you come into this season. And I think you guys are maybe right at 500 right now in a very crowded Pacific, I will say. Yeah. So what's the vibe? What's the, how's the energy in the room? What are you guys feeling?

What are expectations for the season? Talks us about that. Honestly, I think the greatest thing about our team right now is that we have a developing group. Like, to me, as a coach, the best feeling is knowing that, like, we don't even feel like we've scratched yet upon the potential that we can become this year. And I mean that wholeheartedly, like, yeah, we're 500, but the games that probably two or three games that we didn't come up with, those are games we should have had. Like we outplayed those opponents or I feel like we outchance them. And so it's, you know, those games eventually are going to turn into wins. But I think more importantly is we have a locker room that is on track and trending in the right direction of the way that the changes and just all of the new implementations that we've tried to make on many levels.

There's some familiarity to our system for last year for sure. But personnel wise, like we have to up and down our lineup. we have to get scoring and contributions from everyone. That's just the makeup of our team. And so it's a great challenge as a coach, right, trying to maximize every player and needing every player every night. We just, you know, it's moments in a game. It could take over games.

And if you have to limit what you give those types of players. And so I think we're in a good learning process right now. Like we got, we can't, we can't afford to give up those very fixable mistakes. and we're learning from them. We're starting to see them diminish in our game. And I think two nights ago against Montreal, we saw a product of our team up and down our lineup, scoring from everyone, special teams was great,

shut down Montreal's strongest guys. Also with special teams, like we know where we're at, and I think we also know how far we can go still. So for now, and I hope we're having a conversation again at the end of the season, we're like, holy shit, like you guys Seattle Spunk is back. Let's go. Get just a T-shirt.

Yeah. Where do you even get that shirt? That's unreal. We made it. Like, we made it. That's, we started saying Seattle Spunk.

And then our fans like, you guys might need to. Yeah, I will send you. We're going to send you one. Branch off and sell those. Yeah. 100%.

Okay. 100%. We're sending you one as like just, I'm like, clip that right now. The Seattle Spunk is back. Let's fucking go. I love it.

It's going to be vintage by the time I get it. 100% oh my god it's absolutely amazing um all right jess we want to close you out with a game we play with all of our guests it's called pass shoot score pass shoot score is basically a ranking system passing the puck is great but we like shooting a little bit more and scoring is the ultimate goal so we're going to give you a few things that we know you like things that you have to rank and we're going to start with jerseys so pass shoot score your team canada reds the calgary and Ferno start the Spark jerseys or the Crack and Blues. Ooh.

What? Am I talking strictly like aesthetic? Am I talking about what way do I take this? I think what you think looks the coolest. It's yeah, it's meant to be tough. Okay. I actually loved being in Canada whites. There's something about being in the whites that for me was like.

Okay. So I'm going to just have to say. that that's because I didn't love our reds. I thought they were too, like, muted. Good. So whites. That's a good loophole. Good loophole.

Yeah, yeah, all done. Wiggling out of this. Yeah. And then, yeah, shoot would be out to be the start the spark ones. Like, those were so damn cool. And they were all youth mental health jersey. And then we were nothing close to purple our team. So that was like such a cool thing to be part of.

Yeah. But the crack and blue were electric. electric, so they have to be score. Beauty. I love that. Our colors are awesome. Oh, my God. They're just so perfectly done.

It goes back to the shirt. Yeah, yeah. So good. Jess, give me a quick, give me a quick, like, top three cleanest NHL jerseys in your opinion. Ooh. Oh, man. Okay, I'm putting ours in that category.

Okay, I love it. I know, I'm pretty sure Montoro would say the same thing because he said that to the media. That's where it started for him, the colors were. sick. Who do I love? Who have I always? Well, I feel like I can't say this, but

I always grew up wearing red and blue, so Montreal to me is iconic. They're so good. I mean, come on. It's just a perfect jersey. Yeah. And, oh, man. I really like,

God, I personally love. Vegas. Oh. Like when they rebranded or when they came out, I was just really into it because maybe I was like the feminine and you love the like gold touches and thought that was just so cool. And like nobody else can do that but Vegas.

So like I would have to throw Vegas and then that might be like a sleeper pick, but I'm going to go with Vegas. I love that. That's a great answer. People sleep on the V in the home. Yeah. Some people don't even notice that. Okay, Jess, here's your next category.

Pass shoot score, Cornell Bar. Okay. I've got the chapter house. Dunbar's number one. Oh, okay. Oh, shit. I've got the chapter house. I don't know how you say it's right.

Rolofs, Rulhoffs, Rulhoffs, and Dunbar's. Okay. So chapter house is pass. Rulafs is two and Dunbar's. Wow. The chapter house is an institution, I'm told. You didn't like it? I didn't spend enough time there.

We weren't, yeah, we weren't allowed to, we weren't allowed to have that much fun. Like I said, I was, I had fun at Dunbar's. I mean, I love that Dunbar was just right out the gate there. Yeah, what was it about Dunbar's? Yeah, what was that spot? Have you been there? Have you? I haven't been to Dunbar's.

Like, the grossest place. I don't think it actually exists anymore. I think they sold it. It's so gross. It's like that a pit, like, if you have to describe a college bar to, like, your, you know, grandmother, they're like, what are you talking about? You know, they don't want to hear it. Like, that's the place that you're like, yeah, it's like 10 feet by 10 feet.

And it's just popcorn and beer. And there's great music, sweet Caroline's playing. And everyone's talking hockey. Like, I don't know. It's like a place you want to get out of as fast as you are trying to get in. But then you're stuck there. Yeah, yeah. The Cornell thing.

The next thing you know you blink and you've been there for four hours and they're like, oh shit, it happened. Right. Or when you have family and friends come to town, you're like, I have to take, I have to take you on Dunbar's and only on Saturday because that's the night. Yeah. And Jess, when we were sourcing a lot of people that had gone there and stuff online about the best spots to ask you that question, you're so right. All of these places are gone now. Like Chapter House like burned down, Dunbar's is closed. Like everything is just disaster area. It's like, oh man, what a bum. It's so sad to be honest. Yeah. You hate to see it. So sad.

Okay, I'm really psyched about this one. Here's your next one. This is something that you and I have in common. So this one's going to be style and fashion. I know you're a big fan of that. Wait, we have that in common? Dan's a big fashion. You're not the one wearing the spunk shirt.

Yeah, he's in a knit sweater. I'm in a spunk t-shirt. All right. We're both in knit sweaters. Okay, we can do this. Okay. So here's your fashion past shoot score. Aritzaa.

Reformation and the scarf you wore on the bench when coaching for Team Germany. You must have did your digging, holy hell. Or you went on Google and you found that picture of me. Spitting Chickens found that picture too along the way. Oh my God. Looking like a flight attendant. Okay. Pass, pass, pass.

Yeah. Pass, pass, pass. I was way too early in my career to say. They're like, do you feel comfortable? I'm like, yeah, I feel great. Sure, no problem. Meanwhile, me and the other assistant coach are like, how can I wear this scarf in a way that nobody sees it?

Yeah. They are making me wear the scarf. Three or pass on the scarf. That was atrocious. And for all the listeners, they're going to go Google and find the damn scarf picture now. Yeah. Yeah. Actually, our first game, our first game, we played Canada,

Damon Severson I grew up with and skated with. He hops on the ice. of course, like playing Canada, and I'm like, you know, Arnaut, Gates, night one at world championships for us. Yeah. He's hops on for worse. He's like, nice scarf dress. Like, God damn it.

Nice to see you too. Yeah. Thanks a lot. Anyways. Oh, man. Okay, well, Reformation, you know, I don't have a lot from there, but I love that brand. So I'll have to say shoot and score as Eritia because I can do it all in Eritia. Yep.

I've heard a little inside source said that about 80% of your war job is Eritia. So that's good to know. Yeah, I'm expanding now. Yeah, good. Good for you. Hey, Jess, how did you pick out the fit for Game 1 NHL? Because you knew there was going to be 8 billion pictures taken. So, yeah, how did that?

What went into that thought? All I was worried about was getting rid of all the scarf photos on Google and replacing them with opening night. And now I just set us back a year with this right now. It's okay. It's good. It keeps the honest. This opening night, I had two suits in mine. Last year we went on a streak in playoffs when I wore white.

We seemed to always win when I was wearing white, not that white suit. So this summer I upgraded my wardrobe a little bit and got a new white suit. So that was like I need a new white suit. And then I found a red like red velvet suit, which I've worn already this year and it's oh and two. So I don't feel too good about the red suit. But it's okay. We'll get there.

Yeah. Yeah, I'll get over it. But I said to my best friend, I, should I go red or do I go white? And she's like, you got to go white. Like no man's ever going to wear a white suit. Yeah. I'm like, it's a little dicey though. Like when I wear it white on the bench, I'm not kidding.

You're like there's gatorie. There's shit happens on the bench. blood, you know, all kinds of stuff happen. So I'm like, I'm always like, I'm always in the trenches wearing white. But it's a good, it's just a good line to risk. Yeah, I love it. And hey, just keep reminding the red suit what makes it special, what makes it stand out. Yeah.

And it will, it will get there. I'll have to sit with it for a while. It will see the light. We're going to get a week. It will see the light. Okay, Jess, here's. It had a tough start in Dallas. Yeah.

God, shit. Yeah, true. Fuck. Okay. Here's your last one, Jess. Pass shoot score, this category is famous landmarks. Okay. Pass shoot score Seattle's Space Needle,

Coachella's giant Ferris wheel, or the world's largest oil can. Oh, man. That's too good. Everybody, I hope so many SaaS listeners listen to this. I appreciate that. Okay. Come on.

Coachella, stagecoach. which, okay, it has to be two. Space Needle's cool, but I'm just going to say, like, there's a lot of cool things about Seattle and Crackarder. That's overrated. It's overrated. Yeah, Space Needle's just going to be passed. There's a lot of cool places like that.

And I feel like my proud Prairie South has to say that the oil cans, the best place, because come on. Come on, baby. It has a nine-hole golf course. Oh, I didn't even know that. You could play it eight. You could play it ten times in a roll. if you want it and you really only have to pay a hundred bucks like it's just the best spot

in it's a great deal it's a great deal i had never seen it i had never seen it till we were getting ready for this interview it looks sick like oh it i like when we found it you're like where's this literally yeah i was like this is going to be dumb and then you look it up and you're like wait this looks awesome it's crazy that's it that little town rocrowville is such a cool little spot because I mean, there's not, there's not much there other than a school, a hockey rink, which we have, like, the keys to. Yeah. So, like, that's just, like, you know, that's just such a typical Canadian upbringing. But, like, this town, I get an email from the city or the town council lead.

And, like, we're converting the town to Crackenville for Christmas and everybody's challenged to put up heel lights. And I'm like, this only happens in small town, Saskatchewan. where like the whole town is like knows our game schedule better than I do like it's it's unreal so I gotta give a shout out to the oil can come on yeah we gotta get the we gotta get a huge crack in jersey made to put on the oil can

yeah oh wow that would be that's what I need that would be very special I'd be iconic I love it all right Jess this has been absolutely amazing we can't thank you enough for coming on before we let you go is there anything you want to shout out anything you want to plug no you guys are awesome I appreciate I appreciate the good candid honest real combo you guys do great work so thanks

for having me hey it's our pleasure truly and you know you're welcome anytime we gotta get you we gotta get you in studio yes when you're in L.A that'll be great I'll mix when I'm I'm almost lost this full tan so next time that's true we got to that stay in California yeah we got to get that going again for next spring all right well thank you again yeah it's been the best Absolutely. You guys rock. Thank you so much. Talk to you soon. Huge, huge thank you to soup. Just what a time. What a time. So cool hearing firsthand more about her story and just couldn't be rooting for harder. And she didn't even need it because she's just like we said, all she does is win.

Dude, all she does is win and she's such a beast. Some of the stuff, my favorite part, by the way, was the getting the Coachella job. That is actually insane. Oh, such a cool story. But every step of the way, her attitude has blown me away. Oh, my God. I think that's like my biggest takeaway from this interview is just inspirational. Yeah, truly, very, very much. Huge thank you to Jessica Campbell. Just could not be bigger fans.

Absolutely lover. Hope you guys enjoyed the interview. That's it for us today at the Empty Nerds podcast. We've got craziness going on in the NHL. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel. Send it around. Get your friends listening. We love you.

And until we see you next. time. Do what Jess does. Skate hard.