NHL players weren’t the only hockey stars present during the 2018 All-Star Weekend. Numerous members of the United States Women’s Hockey Team made an appearance at the event, including Hilary Knight, one of the best forwards on Team USA.
Taking time out of their busy training schedule to participate in the event, Knight and two other Olympic teammates demonstrated the events that would take place in the Skills Competition.
28-year-old Knight is a two-time Olympic silver medalist, seven-time World Champion, and a staunch advocate for gender equality and positive representation of the female body, so it’s no wonder that Devils forward Brian Boyle was intimidated by her greatness.
Video
In a video posted by the NHL, Boyle, whose return to Tampa brought joy to the hometown fans, is mic’ed up and repeatedly comments about Knight’s jaw-dropping skill.
The video shows Knight waiting to demo the accuracy event, during which she amazed the crowd with her speed and precision.
FYI, @HilaryKnight can snipe. #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/4y58U7pgDu
— NHL (@NHL) January 28, 2018
Boyle made his intimidation of her known before she even started shooting, saying “If she hits all five, if she goes five in five, I’m not going. I’m leaving.”
“I’ve seen her play, I can’t match that,” he remarked to another player with a smile.
Boyle looked on with admiration as Knight hit target after target in a quick 11.640 seconds. He would later come in second in the event, hitting all five targets in 11.626 seconds – only 14 one thousandths of a second faster than Knight.
Hilary Knight had a go at the NHL Skills Accuracy Competition, finishing with a time of 11.640.
This would have been good enough for 3rd in the competition behind Brock Boeser (11.136) and Brian Boyle (11.626). #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/S8Bnsyn9ok
— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) January 28, 2018
The real ranking NHL Skills Accuracy Competition :
1- Brock Boeser : 11,136 sec
2- Brian Boyle : 11,626 sec
3- Hilary Knight : 11,640 sec
4- Sidney Crosby : 15,851sec
Good job @HilaryKnight 👏🏻👊🏻👊🏻🏒#NHLAllStar #womensmovementneverstops @TVASports @RDSca @TSN_Sports https://t.co/cY7kcq4DLn— Lore Baudrit (@LoreBaudrit) January 28, 2018
While at All-Star Weekend, Knight also posed for a photo with Alex Ovechkin with teammates Hannah Brandt and Haley Skarupa. Skarupa is the first woman from the Washington metro area ever named to the US Olympic hockey roster.
The All-Star festivities’ location in Tampa made it easy for Team USA to attend the event, as the team is currently training in the city as they gear up for the Winter Olympics. The USWNT will play in the first game Sunday, February 11 against Finland.
