Coyne Schofield, still an active player, has been part of the NHL franchise in various roles for seven yearsBlackhawks
U.S. women's hockey F Kendall Coyne Schofield "will join the Rockford IceHogs" as the the "first female full-time coaching hire" in the Blackhawks organization, according to Phil Thompson of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Coyne Schofield yesterday was named Blackhawks player development coach. She has been "part of the Hawks organization in various roles for seven years, and she said male players and staff have been very supportive." Coyne Schofield becomes "part of a wave of female pioneers in professional hockey." Coyne Schofield has "served as a community liaison for the Hawks for several years" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/24).
BREAKING THE MOLD: Coyne Schofield said that her duties "will be diverse, hoping to train, coach and advise players at various levels of the organization on and off the ice." She will "spend the most time with the IceHogs." But she also will "remain an active player with the women's national team, which will seek to defend its 2018 Olympic gold medal in 2022" (Chicago SUN TIMES, 11/24). In Chicago, Scot Gregor writes Coyne Schofield "keeps making history" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/24). NBCSPORTS.com's Charlie Roumeliotis wrote Coyne Schofield "has been breaking barriers her whole life" and she "did it again" yesterday. She wants to "continue to carve out a path for young women aspiring to follow her footsteps" (NBCSPORTS.com, 11/23).
EVOLVING TREND: ESPN.com's Emily Kaplan noted the Backhawks also promoted Senior VP & GM Stan Bowman's executive assistant Meghan Hunter to Dir or Hockey Administration and amateur scout. The Blackhawks "now have three women working in their hockey operations department," as hockey analytics coordinator Mary DeBartolo was hired last year. Bowman said of why women traditionally have not been represented in the hockey operations departments, "I don't think there was ever a conscious movement to deny women, at least that wasn't my experience. But I also don't think there was as much emphasis on seeking out how they can help. I think too much of the same is not really helpful" (ESPN.com, 11/23).
