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 didn91裸聊视频檛 have the intensity of a true international, there were big saves, breakaways and some physical play inside Enterprise Center, where fans chanted 91裸聊视频淯-S-A! U-S-A!91裸聊视频� 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. Barzal91裸聊视频檚 mark was just 0.003 seconds off of the record set by Detroit91裸聊视频檚 Dylan Larkin in 2016.
91裸聊视频淗e flies,91裸聊视频� McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, said of Barzal on Friday afternoon. 91裸聊视频滺e skates like the wind and he91裸聊视频檚 got real good hands and he91裸聊视频檚 definitely a player that91裸聊视频檚 fun to watch.91裸聊视频�
Apart from the women91裸聊视频檚 3-on-3 game, another addition to this year91裸聊视频檚 skill competition was the so-called 91裸聊视频淪hooting Stars91裸聊视频� 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 women91裸聊视频檚 hockey last night. It was an honor to be a part of it.
91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� including one on San Jose91裸聊视频檚 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 Carlsson91裸聊视频檚 104.5. Weber also won three straight from 2015 to 2017, but wasn91裸聊视频檛 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 women91裸聊视频檚 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 women91裸聊视频檚 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 .
91裸聊视频� NHL (@NHL)
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91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 thrilled that we have an opportunity for the women91裸聊视频檚 game to be demonstrated,91裸聊视频� said commissioner Gary Bettman. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e excited to be here, we91裸聊视频檙e excited to have them. The fact we can shine a brighter light on the women91裸聊视频檚 game is a positive for them, for the game and for young girls watching and aspiring to do the same thing.91裸聊视频�
But it91裸聊视频檚 also unclear if the NHL is willing to go any further in its support.
91裸聊视频淲e are all hopeful,91裸聊视频� Johnston said. 91裸聊视频漊s being here, I think that91裸聊视频檚 a step in the right direction. The NHL is supporting women91裸聊视频檚 hockey. They91裸聊视频檙e helping us get the exposure that we need.
91裸聊视频淭he partnership is there. It91裸聊视频檚 not something you can just build over night. For us it91裸聊视频檚 just being patient, trying to grow the game.91裸聊视频�
McDavid not expecting any tkachuk fireworks
McDavid missed Thursday91裸聊视频檚 all-star media availability, but spoke ahead of the skills competition. Apart from discussing the seriousness of his knee injury 91裸聊视频� the full details weren91裸聊视频檛 released until a documentary aired Friday 91裸聊视频� the 23-year-old said he doesn91裸聊视频檛 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. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e here to have a good time,91裸聊视频� McDavid said. 91裸聊视频漌hatever is going on it will be settled, (but) definitely not at the all-star game.91裸聊视频� The Flames and Oilers play in Edmonton on Wednesday in Kassian91裸聊视频檚 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. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檒l be, as a fan and a viewer, what you want it to be,91裸聊视频� Bettman said. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檒l be able to watch the game as you91裸聊视频檝e always watched it traditionally if that91裸聊视频檚 what you want. There91裸聊视频檒l be broadcast enhancements 91裸聊视频� and there91裸聊视频檒l be more data than ever before.91裸聊视频�
No Olympic decision
Bettman said there91裸聊视频檚 still no decision on the NHL going to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, but things don91裸聊视频檛 sound promising. While the NHL Players91裸聊视频� 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 participate in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. 91裸聊视频滸oing is extraordinarily disruptive,91裸聊视频� Bettman said. 91裸聊视频淲e were very comfortable not going.91裸聊视频� IIHF president Rene Fasel has set an August deadline for the NHL to decide if its in or out.
O91裸聊视频橰eilly showing support
Blues centre Ryan O91裸聊视频橰eilly sported a different look during warmups 91裸聊视频� 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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