Jason Spezza would have jumped at the opportunity to voice his support for womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey even if he didnB次元官网网址檛 have four daughters growing up at home.

The veteran Maple Leafs forward was a big fan of the womenB次元官网网址檚 game long before he was married, dating to years ago when Spezza attended a pre-Winter Games tune-up between Canada and the United States at a rink in suburban Toronto.

B次元官网网址淚t was one of the best hockey games IB次元官网网址檝e watched,B次元官网网址� he recalled this week. B次元官网网址淭here were 6,000 people packed in the building. And it didnB次元官网网址檛 matter that it was males or females. It was just a great hockey game.B次元官网网址�

That memory, coupled with the invested personal interest he has for his children, helped prompt Spezza to be one of numerous NHL players to participate in the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey PlayersB次元官网网址� AssociationB次元官网网址檚 latest campaign promoting the need to establish a new North American womenB次元官网网址檚 league.

B次元官网网址淚 think regardless if I have daughters or not, I think itB次元官网网址檚 a really important cause,B次元官网网址� Spezza said. B次元官网网址淏ut it definitely hits more close to home for me with having four daughters and a wife, and womenB次元官网网址檚 rights and talking about equality, which we talk about quite a a bit about in our house.B次元官网网址�

Titled B次元官网网址淪tick In The Ground,B次元官网网址� a one-minute video released last week features U.S. and Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 national team players, NHL players, tennis great Billie Jean King and even Toronto Mayor John Tory discussing the importance of planting a stick to benefit the future of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey.

As PWHPA executive and Hockey Hall of Fame member Jayna Hefford says in the video: B次元官网网址淓very young girl deserves to have the same visible hockey role models as every young boy.B次元官网网址�

It was a message echoed by Edmonton Oilers forward Kyle Turris, who participated in the video.

B次元官网网址淚 have two sons and a daughter, and yeah, I think itB次元官网网址檚 important,B次元官网网址� Turris said. B次元官网网址淚 want my daughter to grow up thinking she can run the world if she wants to do as well.B次元官网网址�

Founded in May 2019 following the demise of the Canadian Hockey League, the PWHPA is made up of the worldB次元官网网址檚 top female players united in a bid to establish a single North American professional league B次元官网网址� ideally backed by the NHL B次元官网网址� with a long-term sustainable economic model.

The associationB次元官网网址檚 members have balked at playing for the U.S.-based six-team National WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League, and instead have been holding a series of barnstorming weekend events called the B次元官网网址淒ream Gap Tour.B次元官网网址�

This yearB次元官网网址檚 tour opened with New Hampshire and Minnesota playing two games, including one at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, which was televised nationally in both the U.S. and Canada. This weekend, the two PWHPA U.S. hub teams will play two games at Chicago, including a contest at the United Center on Saturday that will be televised on NBC Sports Network.

The games represent a homecoming of sorts to U.S. national team member Brianna Decker, who grew up a Blackhawks fan in Wisconsin.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 super exited to play there,B次元官网网址� the two-time Olympian said, adding, B次元官网网址渕y brothers are definitely jealous.B次元官网网址�

Decker is particularly impressed by the support the PWHPA has generated from NHL players and its franchises.

B次元官网网址淜yle Turris saying he wants his daughter to have the same opportunities as himself, thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e striving to do,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淩ight now, we have college hockey. And if youB次元官网网址檙e at the elite level, you make the national team. But after college, youB次元官网网址檙e usually just done playing, which is sad.B次元官网网址�

Decker played at Wisconsin, where she had more access to resources and training facilities than when she played in either the CWHL or NWHL.

B次元官网网址淭here should be something bigger and better out there for us once youB次元官网网址檙e done with college,B次元官网网址� she said, referring to a dedicated dressing room to being able to do your laundry at the rink. B次元官网网址淭hose are some little things that weB次元官网网址檙e striving for, aside from a financial backing.B次元官网网址�

And thatB次元官网网址檚 where PWHPA members say the NHL needs to step in. The league has provided some monetary support in the past, while also increasing the visibility of top female players by including them in each of the past two All-Star weekend festivities.

The NHL, however, has stopped short at committing to back a womenB次元官网网址檚 pro league.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has previously said the league is open to establishing a league, but not at the expense of forcing an existing league like the NWHL out of business. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the leagueB次元官网网址檚 position hasnB次元官网网址檛 changed.

B次元官网网址淚 think the league and our board are supportive of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey, period,B次元官网网址� Daly wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Friday. B次元官网网址淲e understand itB次元官网网址檚 importance to the game generally and the growth of our game going forward. But as you are seeing, that support can (and does) take a variety of forms.B次元官网网址�

The NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association has also been on board in providing the PWHPA both monetary and organizational support, including attracting corporate sponsors.

Timing is becoming an issue, with the PWHPA hoping it can align the launch of a league with the quadrennial boost womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey gains from Olympic competition. The Beijing Games are a year away.

B次元官网网址淲e want the NHL to step in and be like, `WeB次元官网网址檙e going to support your league.B次元官网网址� We want that and we wish it was that easy,B次元官网网址� Decker said. B次元官网网址淗opefully, Gary Bettman and the NHL can figure out a way to have our league started and get going, and have something thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be long-term for us soon.B次元官网网址�