The women were on centre stage at the NHL all-star skills competition for a second straight year.
And they hope that exposure will eventually lead to brighter days in the not-too-distant future.
Canada beat the United States 2-1 in a spirited 3-on-3 game between female players Friday night. Rebecca Johnston and Melodie Daoust scored for the Canadians, while Hilary Knight replied for the Americans in the 20-minute showcase.
While the game didn害羞草研究所檛 have the intensity of a true international, there were big saves, breakaways and some physical play inside Enterprise Center, where fans chanted 害羞草研究所淯-S-A! U-S-A!害羞草研究所� off the opening faceoff.
Kendall Coyne Schofield turned heads at the 2019 event in San Jose in the fastest skater competition, while Brianna Decker impressed with her deft puck skills in the passing event. Female players were also on hand at the 2018 all-star game in Tampa, Fla.
In terms of NHLers on Friday, New York Islanders centre Mathew Barzal dethroned three-time defending champion Connor McDavid in the fastest skater competition with a time of 13.175 seconds. McDavid, who suffered a serious knee injury at the end of last season, actually posted a faster time (13.215 seconds) than his three previous victories. Barzal害羞草研究所檚 mark was just 0.003 seconds off of the record set by Detroit害羞草研究所檚 Dylan Larkin in 2016.
害羞草研究所淗e flies,害羞草研究所� McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, said of Barzal on Friday afternoon. 害羞草研究所滺e skates like the wind and he害羞草研究所檚 got real good hands and he害羞草研究所檚 definitely a player that害羞草研究所檚 fun to watch.害羞草研究所�
Apart from the women害羞草研究所檚 3-on-3 game, another addition to this year害羞草研究所檚 skill competition was the so-called 害羞草研究所淪hooting Stars害羞草研究所� event that saw players positioned on a raised platform behind one of the goals at Enterprise Center fire pucks at a variety of targets.
Thank you to the for creating a historic moment in women害羞草研究所檚 hockey last night. It was an honor to be a part of it.
害羞草研究所� Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux (@LamoureuxTwins)
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks won the event, while Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin also took part in the 10-competitor field.
St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington thrilled the hometown fans by winning the save streak/shootout challenge with 10 straight stops 害羞草研究所� including one on San Jose害羞草研究所檚 Thomas Hertl as he sported a Justin Bieber mask.
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber won the hardest shot with 106.5 miles per hour, just ahead of Washington Capitals blue-liner and defending champion John Carlsson害羞草研究所檚 104.5. Weber also won three straight from 2015 to 2017, but wasn害羞草研究所檛 named to the all-star game the last two years.
Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Jaccob Slavin, meanwhile, took home the shooting accuracy award.
The Canadian roster for the women害羞草研究所檚 game included Daoust, Johnston, Poulin, Meghan Agosta, Blayre Turnbull, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner, Renata Fast, Laura Fortino and Ann-Renee Desbiens.
The U.S. countered with Coyne Schofield, Decker, Knight, Amanda Kessel, Alex Carpenter, Annie Pankowski, Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson, Kacey Bellamy, Lee Stecklein and Alex Rigsby.
Friday marked the biggest stage the NHL has ever provided the women害羞草研究所檚 game, and the second-biggest overall aside from the Olympics. The players are banking on it eventually leading to a sustainable league in partnership with the NHL.
Catch up on everything from the historic Elite Women's 3-on-3 presented by .
害羞草研究所� NHL (@NHL)
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害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 thrilled that we have an opportunity for the women害羞草研究所檚 game to be demonstrated,害羞草研究所� said commissioner Gary Bettman. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e excited to be here, we害羞草研究所檙e excited to have them. The fact we can shine a brighter light on the women害羞草研究所檚 game is a positive for them, for the game and for young girls watching and aspiring to do the same thing.害羞草研究所�
But it害羞草研究所檚 also unclear if the NHL is willing to go any further in its support.
害羞草研究所淲e are all hopeful,害羞草研究所� Johnston said. 害羞草研究所漊s being here, I think that害羞草研究所檚 a step in the right direction. The NHL is supporting women害羞草研究所檚 hockey. They害羞草研究所檙e helping us get the exposure that we need.
害羞草研究所淭he partnership is there. It害羞草研究所檚 not something you can just build over night. For us it害羞草研究所檚 just being patient, trying to grow the game.害羞草研究所�
McDavid not expecting any tkachuk fireworks
McDavid missed Thursday害羞草研究所檚 all-star media availability, but spoke ahead of the skills competition. Apart from discussing the seriousness of his knee injury 害羞草研究所� the full details weren害羞草研究所檛 released until a documentary aired Friday 害羞草研究所� the 23-year-old said he doesn害羞草研究所檛 expect there to be any issues between himself, Edmonton teammate Leon Draisaitl and Calgary forward Matthew Tkachuk. The Oilers and Flames played a heated game two weeks ago where Tkachuk levelled Edmonton winger Zack Kassian with two huge hits. That led Kassian to jump a turtling Tkachuk and earn a two-game suspension. It also sparked a war of words as the Battle of Alberta went from simmering to red-hot. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e here to have a good time,害羞草研究所� McDavid said. 害羞草研究所漌hatever is going on it will be settled, (but) definitely not at the all-star game.害羞草研究所� The Flames and Oilers play in Edmonton on Wednesday in Kassian害羞草研究所檚 return from suspension.
Puck and player tracking on track
Bettman said puck and player tracking technology will be ready to go in each of the 16 arenas hosting playoff games this spring, and in all 31 buildings by the start of next season. The tracking is also being used at the all-star game for the second straight year. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be, as a fan and a viewer, what you want it to be,害羞草研究所� Bettman said. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檒l be able to watch the game as you害羞草研究所檝e always watched it traditionally if that害羞草研究所檚 what you want. There害羞草研究所檒l be broadcast enhancements 害羞草研究所� and there害羞草研究所檒l be more data than ever before.害羞草研究所�
No Olympic decision
Bettman said there害羞草研究所檚 still no decision on the NHL going to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, but things don害羞草研究所檛 sound promising. While the NHL Players害羞草研究所� Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation would like to see it happen, the league views the tournament as a major inconvenience in the middle of the schedule. The NHL went to five Winter Games between 1998 and 2014, but didn害羞草研究所檛 participate in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. 害羞草研究所滸oing is extraordinarily disruptive,害羞草研究所� Bettman said. 害羞草研究所淲e were very comfortable not going.害羞草研究所� IIHF president Rene Fasel has set an August deadline for the NHL to decide if its in or out.
O害羞草研究所橰eilly showing support
Blues centre Ryan O害羞草研究所橰eilly sported a different look during warmups 害羞草研究所� a Kansas City Chiefs football helmet. The team advanced to the Super Bowl last weekend for the first time in 50 years, and will take on the San Francisco 49ers in the big game Feb. 2.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
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