The NHLB次元官网网址檚 inclusion of Canadian players Rebecca Johnson and Renata Fast and Americans Kendall Coyne Schofield and Brianna Decker alongside the leagueB次元官网网址檚 stars made hockey headlines in San Jose, Calif., this past weekend.

Coyne Schofield, the first woman to compete in the skills event, injected heat into the speed event throwing down a fast lap for the men to beat.

A social media campaign demanded Decker be paid winnerB次元官网网址檚 prize money with the argument she was faster demonstrating the passing drill than the men were competing in it.

B次元官网网址� Jayna Hefford (@J16H)

Johnston, from Sudbury, Ont., held her own demonstrating the tricky puck control drill that gave Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson trouble.

B次元官网网址淧erformance sent a message,B次元官网网址� former Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 team captain Cassie Campbell-Pascall told The Canadian Press on Monday. B次元官网网址淭hat to me was what was so powerful.

B次元官网网址淲hat they showed is what weB次元官网网址檝e known all along is that theyB次元官网网址檙e skilled, fast, strong and dedicated. For whatever reason, a lot of people were still shocked.

B次元官网网址淲here the proof in the pudding will be is if people who were shocked start showing up and watching these women play on a regular basis.B次元官网网址�

For the NHL players, FridayB次元官网网址檚 skills competition may have been a made-for-television event with little on the line other than ego and prize money.

But it was an extraordinary opportunity for women to prove a point about their game similar to Billie Jean King in tennis or Annika Sorenstam in golf, said Campbell-Pascall.

B次元官网网址淒o you remember watching Annika Sorenstam when she played against the men and she hit this beautiful drive on the first tee?B次元官网网址� she asked.

B次元官网网址淚f they donB次元官网网址檛 perform in that moment, it sets us back 20 years. ItB次元官网网址檚 awful to say that, but thatB次元官网网址檚 the reality womenB次元官网网址檚 sports is in.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 think we grew our sport this weekend immensely,B次元官网网址� said Decker, a teammate of JohnstonB次元官网网址檚 with the CWHLB次元官网网址檚 Calgary Inferno.

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The NHL invited Coyne Schofield into the fastest skater event when ColoradoB次元官网网址檚 Nathan McKinnon pulled out with an injury.

The first skater to go, her lap of 14.346 seconds was faster than Clayton Keller of the Arizona Coyotes (14.526) and just over a second back of winner Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (13.378).

Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen fell, but was given a do-over for a time of 13.914.

Johnston watched Coyne SchofieldB次元官网网址檚 lap from the playersB次元官网网址� bench and saw eyebrows go up.

B次元官网网址淚 think she definitely put the pressure on them for sure,B次元官网网址� Johnston said.

Even though she demonstrated the puck control drill and didnB次元官网网址檛 compete in it, Johnston felt the weight of the moment with the television cameras following her and the eyes of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top players on her.

B次元官网网址淥h my god, I felt so much pressure,B次元官网网址� the three-time Olympian said. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 want to screw up too badly and make us look bad.

B次元官网网址淭he most intimidating thing was the best hockey players in the world are there watching you. TheyB次元官网网址檙e all one knee on the ice just staring at me.B次元官网网址�

The NHL didnB次元官网网址檛 post an official time for her or Decker, whose demo for the premier passer drill didnB次元官网网址檛 even make it on television.

But nothing happens in a vacuum in the age of mobile phones. A video and a stated time of one minute six seconds sparked a #PayDecker social medal campaign contending Decker was faster than winner Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (1:09).

SportsnetB次元官网网址檚 Elliot Friedman later reported the NHL had clocked Decker at 1:12 or 1:13, but the digital debate was in full swing at that point.

The spotlight stayed on the women after the skills competition as Adidas announced endorsement deals with the four women, the NHL committed a $25,000 donation per player to a charity of her choice and the hockey equipment company CCM waded in with a $25,000 bonus for Decker.

WeB次元官网网址檙e gonna .

B次元官网网址� CCM Hockey (@CCMHockey)

B次元官网网址淏etween the three different things that happened this weekend, none of it was expected and it did feel like a huge, huge step for our sport,B次元官网网址� Decker said.

Among the immediate ripples created Friday:

B次元官网网址� Female hockey is trending in a quiet week in the NHL schedule, and also in a non-Olympic year when the profile of the female game drops.

B次元官网网址� Other stars of the womenB次元官网网址檚 game have emerged to join well-known names Marie-Philip Poulin and Hilary Knight.

B次元官网网址� Coyne Schofield, Decker, Johnston and Fast brought attention to FebruaryB次元官网网址檚 three-game series between Canada and the U.S. starting Feb. 12 in London, Ont., then Toronto on Feb. 14 and Feb. 17 in Detroit.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

karissa.gall@blackpress.ca
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