Kelowna Hockey Fest Scores Big Welcoming the NHL’s First Female Coach Jessica Campbell to the Coaching Roster

Presented by Kelowna High Performance (KHP) with support from the GSL Group, Kelowna Hockey Fest is a fun-filled day of events on Friday, August 23rd bringing the Kelowna hockey community together and celebrate Canada’s favourite game. Kelowna’s hockey event of the summer has added some serious star power to its coaching roster with the addition of Jessica Campbell, who was recently named the Assistant Coach of the Seattle Kraken. Jessica, the first female to be named to an NHL coaching roster, will join NHL alumni Shea Weber, Brent Seabrook, and Josh Gorges on the benches for the Pro Game, an action-packed exhibition game run with the Kelowna Rockets Organization.

Jessica has been a longtime partner of KHP, and the team is excited to welcome her back for this special event. “I am thrilled to return to Kelowna where my coaching journey first began and to join the KHP team who are always committed to doing great work in the community. It will be an entertaining event that not only showcases great talent on the ice but, more importantly, an exciting opportunity for the whole community together for a great cause.”

“We’re so excited to have Jessica on the bench for this inaugural event,” says Mark Fitzgerald, Co-Owner of Kelowna High Performance. “I’ve personally had the opportunity to watch her work her way up to make history and can attest that her dedication to the sport of hockey is an inspiration. We’re so excited to have her take her place on the bench, behind some NHL star power for this incredible community event.”

Event organizers are also excited to announce the addition of a celebrity coach with viral hockey TikToker and influencer Coach Chippy, who will add a bit of humour behind the star studded benches.

The outdoor festivities kick off at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 23^rd with a free family-friendly event outside of Prospera Place. With a kids’ zone brought to you by YMCA of Southern Interior BC, shooting accuracy competition, food vendors, beer garden, merch tent (including KHP partners Violent Gentlemen Hockey Club and Cwench Hydration) and more, the Kelowna Hockey Fest team invites you to gather your friends, family, colleagues or teammates for a fun-filled afternoon.

The festivities culminate with the Kelowna Hockey Fest Pro Game at Prospera Place presented in partnership with the Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club. Puck drop is at 6:00 PM with doors opening up at 5:00 PM. Hockey fans will enjoy the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their favourite NHL alumni and current players like Ethan Bear (Washington Capitals), Damon Severson (Columbus Blue Jackets), Brenden Dillion (Winnipeg Jets), Tyler Myers (Vancouver Canucks), Brayden Schenn (St. Louis Blues), and Jaden Schwartz (Seattle Kraken), and Curtis Lazar (New Jersey Devils), alongside young stars like Max Graham and Hunter Laing.

The Pro Game also includes a 50/50 raffle and game-worn jersey auction in support of the YMCA of Southern Interior of BC – donations go directly toward supporting local, low-income children and at-risk youth with free or subsidized membership and access to the Y’s Child and Youth Development programs.

Kelowna Hockey Fest 2024 – 50/50 Raffle: https://trellis.org/kelowna-hockey-fest-2024-5050-raffle