Olympian Coyne tackles role of hockey commentator for NBC

U.S. Olympian Kendall Coyne, who took part in the fastest skater competition at the San Jose all-star game and then did colour commentary at a Tampa-Pittsburgh game in early February, worked the NBC broadcast here Wednesday beside play-by-play man Chris Cuthbert with Ray Ferraro between the benches.

Coyne, who got a communications degree from Northeastern University in Boston, does lots of work for NHL Network, along with still playing for the U.S. internationally. The five-time and 2018 Olympic champion was captain for the 2019 Rivalry Series against Canada and was here in December 2017 playing Canada in a lead-up to the Olympics, so she knows the ice, but is getting a different view from the booth.

“I’ve always had an interest in broadcasting,” said Coyne, who was at Northeastern the same time as Oilers defenceman Matt Benning. “I did a little sideline reporting between my (college) games and covered the men. But since the all-star game, it’s been overwhelming to see the landscape of hockey and how the sport in general has changed. If a little girl or boy picks up the game because they watched me skate (against Connor McDavid), that’s pretty cool.”

Coyne beat the time of Arizona’s Clayton Keller and got highfives from the other players.

“I would say they were a little in awe, but it’s something I’ve been doing since I was three years old. It was cool to see their support because it validated what we do every single day. They view us as hockey players, for them to show their emotion, that was awesome,” said Coyne.

Coyne has watched many hockey commentators and knows what’s hardest.

“You see it from a different lens. You know exactly what happened as a player on the ice when a goal happens, but as an analyst you’re farther away and not directly in the play. It’s about breaking down the play as quickly as you can,” she said. “Your preparation for the game is equally as important as it is for a player. Once that red light goes on, you can’t fake it.”

Coyne ran into Benning at school and they were reminiscing about those days Wednesday.

“Great player, but an even better person,” said Coyne, who is married to Michael Schofield, an offensive lineman for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.