Pay Dispute Threatens Integrity of Women's Hockey Championships

(ATR) A pre-tournament camp and exhibition game have been canceled as members of the USA's Women’s National Hockey team threaten to boycott the upcoming world championships while demanding greater financial compensation.

The International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships are expected to begin at the USA Hockey Arena on March 31 in Plymouth, Michigan. The camp in Traverse City, Michigan was scheduled for today through next Tuesday, while the canceled exhibition game against Finland was slated for Friday night.

USA Hockey officials and nearly 20 players accompanied by attorneys have been meeting this week in Philadelphia to resolve the financial dispute. Both sides have publicly expressed optimism that a resolution could be reached before the start of the world championship tournament.

The players issued a press release on Monday following 10 hours of negotiations: "(They) will continue this week, with the goal of reaching an agreement that would allow the players to get to camp in time to train for and compete in the World Championships," the statement read. "Players are hopeful they will get to take the ice and represent their country."

Negotiations have dragged on for more than a year as players have expressed frustration with the national governing body’s unwillingness to significantly increase the financial compensation offered to members of the national team.

Under the old agreement, players only received $1,000 per month from USA Hockey and up to $2,000 per month from the U.S. Olympic Committee in the six months leading up to the Olympics. In non-Olympic years, players only receive a stipend between $700 and $2,000 from the USOC. The women also contend that USA Hockey does not effectively promote and market their game as it does for the men.

Representing USA Hockey at the meetings in Philadelphia have been president Jim Smith, executive director Dave Ogrean, treasurer Donna Guariglia and director of women’s hockey Reagan Carey.

USA Hockey also issued a statement earlier this week, expressing hope that the dispute will be resolved.

"We’ve had productive meetings with players that are part of the U.S. Women’s National Team program and their representatives, and conversations will continue this week," the statement read. "Our goal remains to have the players we previously announced as the U.S. Women’s National Team be the group that represents our country at the upcoming 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship."

"We remain committed to having the players that were selected to represent the U.S. in the upcoming women’s world championship to be the players that are on the ice when the tournament begins," Ogrean said.

The upcoming championships in Michigan are the first to be held in the United States since 2012. The Americans are the defending champions and have won the world title six of the past seven years.

The U.S. ladies have also won silver medals at the previous two Winter Olympics and claimed gold at the inaugural women’s Olympic hockey tournament in Nagano 1998.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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