Coyne first woman in NHL All-Star skills event

With the NHL needing a replacement in the All-Star skills competition on Friday night, it didn’t take long for someone to come to the rescue. That’s what happens when Kendall Coyne, one of the speediest players on the U.S. women’s national team, is on the scene and willing to compete in the fastest skater event.

Coyne, 26, was already attending the festivities in San Jose, Calif., and planning to demonstrate her skills when organizers asked if she would like to replace Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, who could not compete because of an undisclosed injury. She responded on Twitter, quickly making history as the first woman to compete in the event.

“It would be my honor,” she replied. “I’ll get to the rink as fast as I can! #NHLAllStar #HockeyIsForEveryone.”

According to the NHL’s Department of Hockey Operations, Coyne was timed in 14.226 seconds during Thursday’s testing without warming up and after a five-hour flight. That time would have good for sixth place among eight skaters in last year’s event.

Coyne’s competition on Friday was scheduled to include Cam Atkinson, Mat Barzal, Jack Eichel, Miro Heiskanen, Clayton Keller, Connor McDavid and Elias Pettersson. McDavid has won the event in consecutive years, including the second-fastest time ever (13.172) in 2017.

MacKinnon’s status for the All-Star Game on Saturday night has not been determined.

–Field Level Media