Equal pay battle hits the rink as USA Womens hockey team goes on strike before tourney start. – PB/TK
USA Hockey rebuffed as replacements stand in support of women’s boycott – Guardian sport March 25 2017
Anyone fancy a game? That seems to be the inquiry from USA Hockey, which has asked at least two high school players whether they are available for next week’s women’s world championships in Michigan. Unfortunately for the federation, the answer appears to be no.
The federation is facing a race against time to put out a team for the tournament, after the first-choice USA squad said last week they would boycott the event in protest over low pay and unfair conditions. USA Hockey confirmed it was scouring the country for replacement players – including high schoolers – but with only a few days to go, the federation appears no closer to solving its dispute.
The unwillingness of possible replacements to take part raises the embarrassing prospect of the US not being able to field a team in the championship it is hosting.
Natalie Snodgrass and Cayla Barnes, who play for the USA Under-18 side, said that USA Hockey had inquired about their availability – but they said they would stand in support of the boycott and reject any approach.
They used a version of the famous Jerry Rice quote on Twitter, writing: “Today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I can do what others can’t. I said no to USAH & will not play in the 2017 WC.”
Continue to theguardian.com article: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/25/usa-hockey-world-championships-dispute-boycott
