SAN JOSE -- The NHL All-Star Skills Competition got off to an unparalleled start Friday night, as Kendall Coyne Schofield geared up to compete in the Fastest Skater event.
The U.S. women's national team forward was a surprise addition at SAP Center, becoming the first woman to compete in the All-Star festivities. In making history -- and being the first skater in the whole event, no less -- she also turned the heads of her male competitors.
"She was flying," Atlantic Division captain Auston Matthews told the media after the competition. "Everybody was taking notice (during warmups) because she just looks fast. She did really well."
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Pacific Division captain Connor McDavid, who won the event for the third year in a row, was the last skater in the event and admitted he thought Coyne Schofield had him beat from the start.
"When she took off, I was like, wow," McDavid said with a wide-eyed expression. "I thought she might've won the way she was moving."
Despite this being a competitive event, Coyne Schofield expressed afterward how welcome the other skaters made her feel.
"They were so supportive," Coyne Schofield said, adding that she took pictures with McDavid and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane to commemorate the evening. "They kept saying they were a little nervous I'd beat them. I had full confidence in them, so for them to have full confidence in me was pretty cool."
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Coyne Schofield attended Friday's skills competition alongside teammate Brianna Decker and Team Canada skaters Renata Fast and Rebecca Johnston, who all participated in different events throughout the evening.
Coyne Schofield said she felt their participation and her invitation to compete showed both men and women can participate in the All-Star events.
"I think today the NHL took that stance," Coyne Schofield said. "They made that statement, and I was fortunate enough to be part of a lot of people pushing for it."
McDavid agreed.
"It's an amazing thing for the game when (fans) can see her participate like that," he said.