The reality of what the new womenB次元官网网址檚 pro hockey union was launching didnB次元官网网址檛 resonate with Brianne Jenner until she came out of the locker room and saw the crowd B次元官网网址� many of them young girls B次元官网网址� in the stands of the 700-seat arena.
The leap of faith taken by the Canadian national team forward and more than 200 other top players B次元官网网址� a pledged in May to not compete professionally in North America this season while demanding a single economically viable league B次元官网网址� took its first tangible step in Toronto over the weekend.
The stars played in the inaugural Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey PlayersB次元官网网址� Association B次元官网网址淒ream Gap TourB次元官网网址� stop, which featured some 80 Canadian players split over four teams for a two-day tournament.
B次元官网网址淚 think going into today I underestimated how special it was going to be, being on the ice and when you felt the crowd,B次元官网网址� Jenner said after the team named after her defeated Team (Rebecca) Johnston 4-3 in the opening game.
B次元官网网址淚 think the cheers that we heard were something bigger than just a hockey game. There was a lot of passion in that rink,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淟ast spring, when we had the announcement of the (Canadian WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League) folding, I donB次元官网网址檛 think too many of us thought weB次元官网网址檇 have this kind of event put together in the short time that we did. So to see the talent out there, to see the fans supporting us, it was a pretty special day.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
Historic, perhaps as well, Jenner added, because it provided players validation that they just might be on to something.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 knowing what weB次元官网网址檙e doing is something thatB次元官网网址檚 bigger than ourselves,B次元官网网址� said fellow national team member Kacey Bellamy. B次元官网网址淎nd 50 years from now, weB次元官网网址檙e going to look back and say, B次元官网网址榃ow, we started this.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Though it might be premature for anyone to get ahead of themselves, the tour got off to a solid start.
The game began with a ceremonial faceoff featuring Hockey Night in Canada television fixtures Don Cherry and Ron MacLean, and PWHPA executive and Hockey Hall of Famer Jayna Hefford. And it ended with Jenna McParland stuffing in a rebound to break a 3-3 tie with 3:20 remaining.
Just as important was the turnout, both games were played in front of a mostly packed arena with single-game tickets costing $15.
More impressive was the large collection of corporate sponsors the union assembled to not only pay for the playersB次元官网网址� travel, lodging and food, but also outfit them with jerseys and track suits emblazoned with the PWHPA logo.
Unifor, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest private sector union, served as the title sponsor, and has also committed to paying for the four Canada-based teamsB次元官网网址� practice times. Adidas provided the clothes. Budweiser was on board, while also offering up a lounge for fans. The NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association provided enough of a commitment to have its logo placed on the upper right chest of the jerseys.
Other sponsors included Secret, Bauer, Tim Hortons and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The B次元官网网址淒ream GapB次元官网网址� name of the barn-storming tour represents the missing link for young girls who fear being limited to competing in college or the Olympics while never having a shot to play professionally.
READ MORE:
The PWHPA is also made up of U.S. and European players and has already scheduled tour stops in New Hampshire and Chicago next month with more in the planning stages. American players also made their union debuts this weekend by playing games against Boston College and San Jose Sharks alumni.
Hefford, who served as the CWHL interim commissioner when it folded last spring, estimated the PWHPA has already attracted more financial support from sponsors than the Canadian league did in its final year.
B次元官网网址淐ompanies are coming on I believe because theyB次元官网网址檝e come to understand the current circumstance of the game where you have a player like Marie-Philip Poulin or a Hilary Knight making $3,000 a year. People didnB次元官网网址檛 understand that,B次元官网网址� Hefford said.
The playersB次元官网网址� movement was borne out of the CWHLB次元官网网址檚 demise after a 12-year run in which it out-grew its limitations in relying on volunteers and how much it could pay players under Canadian tax laws. Another issue was players accepting the status quo of little-to-no compensation, with players spending their own money on everything from tape to airport parking for away games.
Sarah Nurse was dismayed by the playing conditions during her one CWHL season after completing her four-year college career at Wisconsin. She noted Badgers players were treated far better than the pros.
B次元官网网址淲hen I came to the CWHL and I saw everybody so satisfied with what they had, it shocked me and it made me sad because it was like, B次元官网网址榊ou guys, weB次元官网网址檙e so much better than this,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Nurse said. B次元官网网址淪o when the CWHL folded it was honestly just the kick in the butt we needed to really put this thing in motion.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
What remains unclear is what the womenB次元官网网址檚 pro hockey landscape will resemble a year from now, and whether the PWHPA can generate enough momentum to gain the attention of the gameB次元官网网址檚 stakeholders, in particular Hockey Canada, USA Hockey and the NHL. Another question is the stability of the five-team, U.S.-based National WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League, which is embarking on its fifth season without many of its most high-profile players.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to be viewed as B次元官网网址渁 bullyB次元官网网址� in pushing a womenB次元官网网址檚 league out of business. HeB次元官网网址檚 also said the NHL doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe in either of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 business models. Though the NHL provides funds to the NWHL, the league is mostly backed by private investors.
The players are pushing for the NHL to step in because it can provide them stability and the necessary infrastructure B次元官网网址� from marketing to man-power B次元官网网址� to promote and grow womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not about them just doing us a favour,B次元官网网址� Hefford said of the NHL. B次元官网网址淲e bring content. We bring diversity and inclusion. We bring some entertainment value that people love.B次元官网网址�
Though Jenner said every option is on the table, the NWHL isnB次元官网网址檛 considered a realistic option with players having already gone through the disappointment of the CWHL folding.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not about someone coming in and saying, B次元官网网址業 have $20 million. I want to start a pro league, beautifulB次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Hefford said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not what these players want. They want something that they know in 10 years, 15 years, 20 years down the road is going to be there, and itB次元官网网址檚 going to continue to grow and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be strong. So to me, you need that infrastructure and we never had that with the CWHL.B次元官网网址�
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
Like us on and follow us on
