NHL steps up for the ladies who participated in the skills competition.

The National Hockey League appears to be following the terrific example set earlier in the day by hockey apparel brand CCM.

According to an official announcement from the National Hockey League's department of public relations the league has stepped up and will be making a very generous donation on behalf of the four female players who participated in their skills competition on Friday night. The four women are of course Brianna Decker, Renata Fast, Rebecca Johnston and Kendall Coyne Schofield, all of whom participated in different aspects of the skills competition on Friday night.

Earlier in the day CCM stepped up in a big way when the announced that they would be giving a big time contribution to Brianna Decker for her performance in the National Hockey League's passing competition. Many felt that Decker, who was not an official competitor in the event, should have been granted the $25,000 in prize money over Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl who won the event. CCM announced that they would give Decker the full $25,000 and although it was likely a very well timed effort at marketing on the part of the iconic hockey brand, nonetheless it was money being donated to a player who does not earn a fraction of what her male counterparts on the ice were earning.

Well not to be outdone by CCM the National Hockey League itself has now stepped up it's own efforts and will be making a similar donation to all of the women who participated in last night's skills competition. The league announced that $25,000 will be donated to either charities or hockey programs of each woman's choice and the donations will of course be made in each of their names. The girls of course showed up last night purely for the love of the game and to showcase their talents on a much larger stage than they have had before, but they will now walk away with a very generous donation from the NHL to give to a cause that they each value.

It's a great move from the NHL and although there are no doubt marketing motivations behind the decision, it is much like CCM's decision earlier today a very generous decision.

[pub]