American forward Brianna Decker put on a performance for the ages last night as she dominated the NHL’s Premier Passing Challenge at Friday night’s skills competition.
In front of a packed crowd at San Jose’s SAP Center, Decker lit it up with a total time of 1:06; roughly three seconds quicker than the eventual winner, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. There was just one problem; Brianna’s performance was technically just a “demonstration” of the drill and she wasn’t theoretically a participant in the event.
Draisaitl ultimately came away with $25,000 cash and many shared the same belief that Decker should have received the same reward. After the hashtag #PayDecker went viral, CCM, who has sponsored Decker for roughly five years, stepped up and made her 25 birds richer.
Pure class! A grateful Decker responded with a tweet of her own after discovering the news.
Decker wasn’t the only female to put on a show in front of fans and players. After an injury took Nathan MacKinnon out of the All-Star festivities, the organization asked American forward Kendall Coyne Schofield to sub in his place and she nearly took home the award. Schofield put up an impressive 14.346, edging Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller and finishing less than one second behind eventual champion Connor McDavid (13.378).
Wheels!
It’s awesome to see the best females in the world earning proper recognition in the hockey community. Well done Decker and Schofield!
(H/T CCM Hockey)
