Following Jessica Campbell’s recent addition to the Seattle Kraken, the Colorado Avalanche became the latest team to hire a female coach: Kim Weiss.
For more than a century, the NHL operated as a male-only league. However, over the last few years, the league and its affiliate have been making drastic changes, hiring more women in coaching positions.
The Washington Capitals were the first team to take a swing outside the norm, hiring Emily Engel-Natzke. She served their AHL affiliate’s team, the Hershey Bears, as the video coach.
Emily Engel-Natzke made history as the first female coaching hire in the Washington Capitals organization.
As the video coach for the Hershey Bears, the Caps’ AHL team, she’s showing women everywhere that they have a place in sport 🏒#HockeyisforHer x @Discover pic.twitter.com/7YdqnmPULG
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) May 14, 2021
This summer, however, Seattle took the Capitals’ cue and took it to another level. After two solid seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken made history by hiring Jessica Campbell as their assistant coach, the first woman to be hired to coach full-time in the NHL.
“I believed I could do it….with that inner belief, whatever it is, in sport, in life, you can create whatever you believe in.”
Discover the journey of new #SeaKraken assistant coach, Jessica Campbell built on hard work, commitment & compassion → https://t.co/x1hAET7kNG pic.twitter.com/fBSrPeMzJC
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 4, 2024
Now, only a month later, the Colorado Avalanche became the latest NHL team to hire a female coach.
Along with their new goalie coach Matt Zaba, Kim Weiss will be the video coach for their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. This makes her the third woman to be hired as a full-time coach in either league.
We’re happy to welcome Kim Weiss, Video Coach and Matt Zaba, Goaltending Coach to the organization.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/o4J3fzg6CP
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 7, 2024
Congrats to both Kim and Matt!
Kim has been a member of the NHLCA Female Coaches Program since its inception in 2020. Her new role with the @ColoradoEagles makes her just the third woman hired full-time on an NHL or AHL coaching staff. https://t.co/wKW7mxAHKm
— NHL Coaches’ Association (@NHLCoachesAssoc) August 7, 2024
Though this is undoubtedly an inspiration for young women hoping to find a home in the sport, these are very tough shoes to fill. Many NHL fans have long-held assumptions that hockey is just a man’s sport.
Hopefully, with her colleagues by her side, Kim Weiss can do right by Colorado and prove these people wrong
Source: NHL.com
Eagles Hire Zaba, Weiss
