With new additions coming to this year's All-Star Game in St. Louis, one of the most exciting highlights will be the Elite Women's 3-on-3 tournament between the USA and Canada.
The tournament will be presented as one of six events at the All-Star skills competition, alongside the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater, the Bud Light NHL Save Streak, the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting, the Enterprise NHL Hardest Shot and another new event, the Gatorade NHL Shooting Stars.
Steve Mayer, NHL Executive Vice President and Chief Content Office, spoke on the new additions;
"The intention here is to give these elite players the forum they've earned and they deserve. It's thrilling for us to be able to give them this moment. This is a meaningful event -- it's on national television, not only are they going to be performing and playing in front of 20,000 people in the arena, but they are also playing in front of 40 of the greatest players in the NHL. We're so confident that they will put on a great display."
While it was previously noted the Hockey Hall Of Famer Jayna Hefford would control the bench for Canada, it had yet to be disclosed who would coach Team USA for the 3-on-3 Tournament.
NHL Seattle announced early Thursday morning that their Pro Scout, former Gold Medalist and Hockey Hall Of Famer Cammi Granato, will serve as head coach of the Elite Women's USA team.
Granato, who served as captain of the U.S. women's hockey team in 1998, led the team to a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. She is also just the second woman in NHL history to be hired as a professional scout, currently serving the position for NHL Seattle.
She was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in November of 2010, alongside Angela James. The duo were the first female inductees in Hockey Hall Of Fame history.
This exciting move from the NHL further displays a lack of exclusivity in the sport, and that all are welcome and equal on the ice. A true showing that hockey is for everyone.
We've got our #NHLAllStar! 🌟#NHLSeattle Pro Scout @CammiGranato will be coaching the American All-Stars during the Elite Women's 3-on-3!
See you in St. Louis → https://t.co/8ZWLNCf8uk pic.twitter.com/yDRALnaCFs— NHL Seattle (@NHLSeattle_) January 16, 2020