Seattle Kraken coach Jessica Campbell made history as the first female coach in NHL history, and her Canadian hometown is gearing up to celebrate her legacy.
Campbell grew up in Rocanville, Saskatchewan, a small town in the south east of the province. It serves as the home to the largest oil can in the world, and a small village where crop circles were discovered in 1996. It’s population, as of 2021, is a mere 889 – making Campbell’s connection to the town extra special.
So, on March 22, Rocanville will host a watch party to cheer Campbell on, hosting a get together to watch the Kraken take on the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg is the closest notable Canadian city.
“Jessica is an inspiration to the community of Rocanville,” Andrea Logan, the Rec Director for the town of Rocanville, told the World-Spectator. “Rocanville is not a very big community and so when we see somebody who has made something of themselves become accomplished, it is an inspiration because I think sometimes maybe people in smaller communities forget there are big opportunities for them as well, and in the hockey world for young girls to see that there is great opportunity for them to go far.”
To celebrate Campbell’s achievements, the town painted a mural bearing a quote and plans to unveil a highway sign later this month.
“We painted a quote, ‘You can, and you will’ from Jessica on our rink wall at the skating rink and then we are going to do this watch party, and then we have also ordered a ‘Home of Jessica Campbell’ sign for the community, and it should be showing up soon. Hopefully, if the sign shows up in time, we will be unveiling it at our watch party on March 22,” says Logan.
“The sign is going to be displayed outside of Rocanville, so you will see it when you are coming into Rocanville. The sign is in the process of being made and as long as it is here in time, we will be unveiling it at the watch party so we will just show it and then there will be another day or time that it will be put up for the town.”