‘Looking forward to that next chapter’

Kristen Campbell had a feeling it was coming, though she didn’t necessarily know where she would be on the move to next.

The Brandon product and the Toronto Scepters had already come to a mutual understanding that it was time for a change for both parties, so it was about making a trade that would benefit both sides.

That trade came on Tuesday night, when Campbell was dealt to PWHL Vancouver along with the 19th overall pick in the 2025 draft for the 16th and 23rd picks.

“I definitely had an idea that it was going to come into fruition and to be heading to Vancouver for this new opportunity and new environment is exciting,” Campbell said in a telephone interview from Toronto.

It had been an interesting and somewhat nerve-wracking few weeks for Campbell, a national-team level goalie who was exposed but went unclaimed in the PWHL expansion draft for Vancouver and PWHL Seattle.

“Every team knew they were going to lose a handful of players and you’re waiting to see how it unfolded,” said Campbell. “How well the league has done in the first two years has been outstanding, with the fan base we’ve been able to build and the product that is on the ice. Above anything, it was really encouraging for the sport of hockey to be where it is right now. Being able to add those two teams to bring it to eight teams within the first three years is an outstanding job by the PWHL.”

That’s part of why being exposed to the business side of the game didn’t bother Campbell one bit.

“Conversations are had on both sides, but honestly, there was a mutual agreement to part ways,” she said. “It was me and them. Having this new opportunity made the most sense for both parties.

“I’m grateful for my time in Toronto and all the experiences I had here — and getting to be a starting goalie for two years and playing in that inaugural game. But I’m looking forward to that next chapter and whatever it brings, I know I’m more than capable of handling it.”

That’s a great example of a growth mindset and keeping things in proper perspective.

Campbell is joining a new team that is ready to shine a bright light on the women’s game in a market that has already embraced the league with open arms.

“It’s going to be amazing,” said Campbell. “We were in Vancouver this year for a takeover tour game and there were 19,000 fans in Rogers Arena. Just seeing their passion for the game and how badly they did want a team out there, it’s really surreal and exciting for me to be headed there and bringing that product to them.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. We have some incredible players headed out there, a lot who I’m familiar with.”

Campbell has a number of connections on PWHL Vancouver, including Ashton Bell of Deloraine and incoming head coach Brian Idalski, who was the bench boss at the University of North Dakota before the women’s hockey program was shut down in 2017 and, more recently, with St. Cloud State.

“Me and Ashton kind of grew up playing together,” said Campbell, who finished her NCAA career with the University of Wisconsin Badgers in 2020. “She was going to come to North Dakota, but the program got cut. And now the coach from North Dakota is coming to Vancouver, too. It’s a neat little reunion and there’s some familiarity there.”

Campbell, 27, spent her first two PWHL seasons in Toronto and posted impressive numbers, including a 9-8-3 record, 2.25 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 2024-25.

Although things didn’t go quite as smoothly in the 2025 playoffs — as the Sceptres were eliminated by the Minnesota Frost in the first round — Campbell is confident in her new partnership in Vancouver with fellow frequent Canadian national team member Emerance Maschmeyer, who signed a two-year deal after helping the Ottawa Charge reach the Walter Cup final.

“We have a great relationship and we’re really great friends,” said Campbell, who is in the mix to represent Canada again at the 2026 Olympics in Italy after a strong showing at the 2025 IIHF women’s world championship. “As goalie partners, you have to be able to lean on each other and support each other and push each other at the same time. And be vulnerable with each other because, at the end of the day, no one understands what it’s like to be a goalie unless you are one.

“Being able to work together as a team is going to be incredible. In this league, the parity is so high, I really believe you need a tandem where anyone can play on any given night. It’s going to be a great scenario for both of us.”

Earlier this week, Campbell posted a picture on social media of herself as a youngster posing with Jennifer Botterill after the Winnipegger was announced as one of the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.

It was a salute to one of the pioneers of the game and a reminder to Campbell about how she’s turned her own dream into reality.

“The first time I ever held an Olympic medal was hers,” said Campbell. “When I met her, it was pretty surreal and after I held that medal, I said ‘I’m going to do that one day.’

“All of the women that have come before us, they’re the ones that made this league possible. It’s unfortunate they didn’t get to play in (the PWHL), but they’re such a large part of it. We’re very lucky and grateful to them for showing us the way. Now it’s our duty to keep doing that for the younger generation.”

Campbell has embraced that responsibility of doing what she can to grow the sport.

“I always think about what this league is going to look like in seven or eight years,” she said. “If we’ve already made this much progress in two seasons, it feels like the sky really is the limit for this league. When you see minor hockey now and spring hockey for ages nine, 10 and 11, the girls are really, really good. Having this league now, for people to look up to, kind of pushes the game that much further because girls want something they can aspire to and work towards. To have this league be that end goal for kids now, the game is going to keep getting stronger and stronger. That’s what everyone has always wanted for the sport of women’s hockey.”

Campbell will be in Winnipeg next week for her annual goalie camp and can’t wait to pass along some knowledge to the group of up-and-comers.

“It’s been more than I could have asked for running my camp every summer,” said Campbell. “We have 50 goalies coming from across Canada, the U.S. and even one from Australia. It’s so amazing to have this group of goalies from the ages of nine to 19. Everyone is coming in with a different background and different experiences.

“For the staff that we have to be training the next generation is a pretty special opportunity and all of us love being out there with everyone and helping them grow their game in every possible way that we can. Something I take a lot of pride in is giving back to the community and to the goalies that do look up to us as role models. It’s very rewarding.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld