BEIJING (AP) 鈥� Kendall Coyne Schofield hasn鈥檛 entirely quit her day job while captaining the United States women鈥檚 hockey team at the Beijing Olympics.
In her second year as a Chicago Blackhawks player development coach, Coyne Schofield is pulling double duty at the Games by checking in on Chicago goalie prospect Drew Commesso, who happens to be playing for the U.S. men鈥檚 team.
鈥淢y focus, obviously, is first and foremost with this team,鈥� Coyne Schofield said, referring to the defending women鈥檚 Olympic champions, who play Finland in the semifinals on Monday. 鈥淏ut I will definitely be watching, cheering from afar and reporting back to some of our folks back in Chicago.鈥�
To be clear, she said, the Blackhawks aren鈥檛 requiring her to do anything but focus on playing during her time in Beijing. And yet, Coyne Schofield feels obligated to do her part for the franchise she grew up rooting for, and that made her the team鈥檚 first female coach.
Coyne Schofield texted Blackhawks interim general manager Kyle Davidson to say she would be watching the team's prospects at the Olympics.
"He鈥檚 like: 'No, don鈥檛 worry about it. We got it,鈥樷�� she said. 鈥淚 have their full support. But if I have the opportunity to see them play, I obviously look forward to that.鈥�
There couldn鈥檛 have been anything bad with her first report back after Commesso 鈥� the youngest goaltender to play for the U.S. at the Olympics 鈥� stopped 29 shots in a 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.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been really awesome to me,鈥� Commesso said.
鈥淚鈥檓 a big fan of hers,鈥� he added. 鈥淚鈥檝e been watching her play in this tournament, and hopefully we鈥檒l stay in touch. And hopefully, I can get a signed stick or something from her because she鈥檚 a legend in women鈥檚 hockey.鈥�
It helps, too, that Commesso鈥檚 professional connection to the three-time Olympian allows him to get advice on how to prepare for his first Winter Games experience.
鈥淭hat aspect of it is pretty cool, because she knows what it鈥檚 like to play on a stage like this,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been a great tool for me. And I鈥檓 going to continue to use her for help and reach out when I need it.鈥�
Commesso missed out on his opportunity to represent the U.S. at the world junior championships, which were abruptly canceled over COVID-19 concerns shortly after they began two months ago. And yet, if not for the omicron surge, which led to the NHL鈥檚 decision to not participate in the Olympics, Commesso wouldn鈥檛 have had the chance to play for the U.S.
He left BU with a 12-8-3 record this season to play for a youth-laden U.S. men鈥檚 team that's off to a 2-0 start. The Americans play Germany on Sunday night, with a chance to clinch the top seed and advance to the quarterfinal round.
Coyne Schofield has three goals and two assists in five games for the U.S. women. She scored an empty-netter and set up Hilary Knight鈥檚 tying goal in the second period of a over the Czech Republic on Friday.
Aside from playing and scouting, Coyne Schofield is also active in the Professional Women鈥檚 Hockey Players Association鈥檚 campaign to establish a economically sustainable women鈥檚 league in North America.
鈥淚t鈥檒l slow down at some point in life, right?鈥� she said of all the jobs she鈥檚 juggling. 鈥淭o be part of the change that we鈥檙e seeing in women鈥檚 hockey and women鈥檚 sports is extremely important to me. And if I can be a part of that change, it鈥檚 a role and an honor that I want to fulfill every day that I can.鈥�
The job with the Blackhawks does provide her a glimpse at a career whenever she is finished playing.
鈥淚鈥檓 enjoying where I鈥檓 at right now,鈥� said Coyne Schofield, who turns 30 in May. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so thankful for the support I鈥檝e received from the Blackhawks to continue to play while being a full-time employee, especially this year because I haven鈥檛 been able to give as much focus to them as I did last year.鈥�
The least she could do was provide Commesso a few tips.
鈥淏efore he got here, he鈥檚 asking some packing questions as most Olympians have,鈥� Coyne Schofield said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 basically just bring your underwear because you get so many clothes here.鈥�
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John Wawrow And Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
