USA captain Kendall Coyne Schofield performs double duty at the Olympics – Orange County Register

By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO

BEIJING – Kendall Coyne Schofield has yet to completely quit his day job as captain of the US women’s hockey team at the Beijing Olympics.

In his second year as the Chicago Blackhawks’ player development coach, Coyne Schofield is doing double duty at the Games by signing up promising Chicago goalie Drew Commesso, who happens to be on the pitch. play for the United States men’s team.

“Obviously my focus is first and foremost on this team,” said Coyne Schofield, referring to the defending women’s Olympic champion, who will face Finland in Monday’s semi-final. “But I will certainly be watching, cheering from afar, and reporting back to some of our people in Chicago.”

Just to be clear, she said, the Blackhawks didn’t ask her to do anything but focus on competition during her time in Beijing. And yet, Coyne Schofield feels obligated to do her part for the franchise she grew up in, and that makes her the team’s first female coach.

Coyne Schofield texted the Blackhawks interim general manager Kyle Davidson to say she would be monitoring the team’s prospects at the Olympics.

“He was like, ‘No, don’t worry about that. We got it,” she said. “I have their full support. But if I get a chance to watch them play, I’m obviously looking forward to it.”

There was nothing bad with her first report back after Commesso – the youngest goalscorer to play for the US at the Olympics – stopped 29 shots in an 8-0 win over China on Thursday. . The 19-year-old is in his sophomore season at Boston University after being selected by Chicago in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2020 draft.

“She was really great for me,” Commesso said.

“I’m a huge fan of hers,” he added. “I have watched her compete in this tournament, and hopefully we will stay in touch. And hopefully, I can get an autographed stick or something from her because she’s a legend in women’s hockey.”

It also helped Commesso’s professional networking with the three-time Olympic athlete allowing him to get advice on how to prepare for his first Winter Olympics experience.

“That aspect is pretty cool, because she knows what it feels like to play on a stage like this,” he said. “She was a great tool for me. And I will continue to use her for help and contact when I need it.”

Commesso missed out on the opportunity to represent the US at the world youth championships, an opportunity abruptly canceled due to concerns about COVID-19 shortly after they started two months ago. And yet, if not for the increase in omicrons that led to the NHL’s decision not to participate in the Olympics, Commesso would not have had the opportunity to compete for the US team.