Pierre McGuire mansplains hockey to gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield

Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield got a taste of sexism in the NHL booth Wednesday night.

During NBC’s “Wednesday Night Hockey” broadcast between the Lightning and Penguins, Schofield, who worked as an analyst for the game, stood squished next to Pierre McGuire, when her male counterpart made things quickly cringe-worthy and uncomfortable by mansplaining hockey to a five-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist.

“Tampa’s gonna be on your left. Pittsburgh’s gonna be on your right,” McGuire said to Schofield before puck drop. “What are you expecting out of this game? We’re paying you to be an analyst, not to be a fan tonight!”

Social media quickly chimed in on the uncomfortable exchange.

“Holy s–t it was worse than I imagined,” ESPN hockey writer Greg Wyshynski tweeted. “Great job treating this gold medalist you’ve advertised as a guest analyst like she’s a fan who won a contest. Embarrassing.”

Former Rangers winger Daniel Carcillo also had jaded comments directed at McGuire and the NHL.

“Ironically, the NHL, as an industry, is a bigger enemy to itself than any of us grieving families/friends will ever be,” Carcillo said. “Case in point, Pierre McGuire mansplaining the game of hockey to USA Olympian & gold medalist, Kendall Coyne Schofield”

Later in the first period, McGuire’s awkwardness came up again when Schofield was talking about the physicality in US-Canada games

“Except I have a cage on for that one,” Schofield said, referring to her hockey mask.

McGuire responded: “I’ll be your cage tonight, how’s that?”

Prior to the game, Schofield said she was excited to learn from McGuire as well as John Forslund and Eddie Olczyk in the booth.

“It’s a huge transition, but I’m looking at it in the same regard as I just want to be myself, showcase my personality and prove to the world that women can talk sports, women can talk hockey and we know the game as well as the men,” she said.

Schofield, who helped Team USA capture gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics, became the first woman to compete in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition over the weekend in San Jose.

Coyne Schofield later defended McGuire, who would also explain the situation.

“I’ve known Kendall for years and have had the privilege of covering her as a member of Team USA at the past two Winter Olympics,” McGuire said in a statement. “We were all thrilled to have her join our coverage last night, but at times my excitement got the better of me and I should have chosen my words better. I have the utmost respect for Kendall as a world-class player, analyst of the game, and role model.”