Women in hockey hit back at trolls shading historic night for female NHL coaches

No troll is going to rain on this parade.

Women in hockey are rallying around one another after a historic week, which saw Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell and Capitals video coach Emily Engel-Natzke become the first female coaches in league history to play against one another.

In the wake of online trolls chiming in on the fete, with one writing, “Women have no place in mens hockey,” and another stating, “Still playing below five hundred lmao,” women in the business have defended their jobs and the significant roles both Campbell and Engel-Natzke play in the league.

Assistant coach Jessica Campbell of the Seattle Kraken looks on from the bench during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on January 16, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. NHLI via Getty Images

Emma Feodora of the Golden Knights‘ entertainment team posted on X, “I don’t see how you can hate from outside of the club; you can’t even get in hahaha.”

She also added photos of the team’s Stanley Cup victory in 2023, wearing a championship ring and holding a bottle of champagne behind the players’ locker room celebration.

I don’t see how you can hate from outside of the club; you can’t even get in hahaha pic.twitter.com/0vhsygrF6D

— Spooky Em (@emma_feodora11) January 26, 2025

On Saturday, Emma Lingan, a Predators reporter and the host of “The Wraparound,” quote-tweeted the “women have no place in mens hockey” post and posed for a photo on the ice with the caption, “We’re actually already here but thanks for your concern.”

7News Boston sports reporter Marlee Wierda also posted a rinkside photo and wrote, “Aw, too bad. We’re already here.”

Aw, too bad. We’re already here pic.twitter.com/Udz1YQUprp

— Marlee Wierda (@marleewierda) January 25, 2025

Engel-Natzke became the first woman to hold a full-time coaching job in the league in 2022 when she was brought to Washington as a video coach.

In October, Campbell became the first full-time female assistant coach in league history to work behind the bench.

Engel-Natzke and the Capitals were victorious on Wednesday, beating the Kraken 3-0 for their sixth consecutive victory.

Their win streak was snapped Friday in a 2-1 loss to the Canucks.

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