USA Hockey issues deadline for women to declare World Championship intentions
Players on the women’s national hockey team have until 5 p.m. ET Thursday to declare whether they will follow through with their boycott of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, a USA Hockey official confirmed to Paste BN Sports.
The players announced Wednesday they intended to sit out the World Championship after “more than a year of stalled negotiations with USA Hockey to secure fair wages and support.” USA Hockey is considering using replacement players for the tournament that starts March 31 and is being held in Plymouth, Mich.
USA Hockey spokesperson Dave Fischer told Paste BN Sports that members of the U.S. National Team have each been asked if they intend to play in the tournament. After the survey is complete, Fischer said USA Hockey officials will determine the next course of action.
John Langel, the lawyer representing the players, told Paste BN Sports that “none” of the players will back down as the deadline approaches and he “expected” USA Hockey to implement such a tactic.
“We have heard that USA Hockey is attempting to field an alternative team to play in the World Championship games,” the players said in a statement sent to Paste BN Sports. “We regret that they have not instead chosen to reconsider their treatment of the current World Championship-winning team. We stand by our original position: that it is time USA Hockey supported its programs for women and girls at the level it provides to boys and men. And we are grateful for the support we've received from across the world for our stance on this subject.”