Good for them.
Good for the US Women’s National Team for boycotting this year’s World Championship, to be hosted at U.S.A. Hockey’s new facility in Plymouth, Mich., starting on March 31. Good for them in demanding more from USA Hockey, not just for their personal well-being, but for the well-being of women’s hockey going forward.
And good for them for letting the ridiculous 5 p.m. Thursday deadline imposed by USA Hockey pass without folding. Although that deadline might have been more an indicator of severely flawed negotiating tactics than direct misogyny, it showed the women are far more united and far more serious than the men in the high offices thought.
“That’s a deadline that was subjective from USA Hockey to put pressure on us to fold,” team leader Hilary Knight told the New York Times. “But everyone’s very passionate and extremely united.”
There is no disputing that men’s hockey is the money-maker, the program that brings in the most revenue. It deserves proper investment in youth programs, like the terrific one that exists with the junior USHL and developmental leagues held in Michigan. You think J.T. Miller would be leading the Rangers in points right now if he kept playing in CYO leagues in East Palestine, Ohio?
Of course, the USHL produces NHL players, and the NHL just donated $9 million to USA Hockey last year, so there’s that.
But since when is USA Hockey strictly a for-profit entity? When did their bottom line mean more than their mission statement of growing the game in the United States — not just the men’s game?
The only cash the women’s national members make now reportedly is a $1,000 per month for a six-month period during Olympic years. They are demanding more of a living wage, more of an effort for promotion and marketing, plus a bigger investment in girls’ programs and more competition during non-Olympic years (just like in the USHL).
The president of USA Hockey, Jim Smith, told the Times the organization’s role “is not to employ athletes, and we will not do so.” But would they be willing to bridge the gap between what they offer the young men and young women?
That is the point of this whole episode. The women are forcing USA Hockey to sit down at the negotiating table and discuss the gender gap in earnest. Of course a corporate spokesman so hollowly said the organization’s objective was to “continue to work toward ensuring the players that have been selected for the team are those that represent the United States in the world championship.”
But then comes that World Championship deadline and the threat of fielding a team made of scabs. A lot of the players in Thursday’s National Women’s Hockey League playoff game are also USWNT players, and they were honored before the game. The league as a whole has pledged its support.
Or maybe USA Hockey thinks it’s a good idea to dress juniors, who would be vulnerable to injury against faster and stronger competition. How would a couple concussion lawsuits sound compared to ponying up an increased investment in the women’s program?
There is a deep unity in the world of women’s hockey, and why wouldn’t there be? This is not just for the current players, but for the future of their game.
If this World Championship goes by without a host team, and that in turn creates a better women’s hockey program in the United States, the protest will not be in vain. If they get what they want and then play, even better.
Either way, good for them for standing up.
Ho-Sang hullabaloo
It’s hard to think of a highly touted New York prospect making a more electric start to his NHL career than has Josh Ho-Sang. Since making his debut for the Islanders on March 2, the 21-year-old who was drafted in the first round in 2014 (No. 28 overall) has become must-see television. He has three goals and three assists in his first nine games. Not only have his speed and skill been utterly apparent, he doesn’t look out of place away from the puck or along the walls. (At least, not yet.)
In the locker room, he has dealt with his share of controversy — and it looks as if he’s found a working alarm clock — by answering many questions with aplomb. (And there is absolutely no need for the team’s staff to insulate him from questions about the No. 66 he wears on his back. It’ll be a bigger story when the team travels to Pittsburgh on March 24 if the questioners are cut off rather than letting the kid answer.)
His cultural heritage also makes him a unique figure in the homogenized NHL. His father is Jamaican of Chinese decent; his mother is Chilean with Russian and Swedish bloodlines. Ho-Sang was raised Jewish.
The Islanders are on the periphery of the postseason bubble and may soon slide out of relevance, but if you haven’t watched Ho-Sang yet, you must.
Happy St. Paddy’s
With so many American and Canadians in the NHL with Irish heritage, Friday is a holiday the league embraces. The Rangers were set to join the rest of the league in wearing green warmup jerseys, and the new tartan shoulders are a nice touch.
It’s also a time to remember former Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn, nicknamed “The Big Irishman,” who passed away in 2014. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen honored him with a new mask.
Stay tuned…
… to the Flames. Was I the only one who spent the last 10 days thinking their winning streak was always coming to an end? It finally did, after a franchise-record 10 straight victories, with a loss to the Bruins on Wednesday. But now as Calgary has solidified their playoff position, maybe it’s time for us to start taking Johnny Hockey & The Boys a little more seriously.
Parting shot
I often wonder how players don’t run into each other more during warmups, or hit each other with wayward shots. It’s 20 guys skating around furiously. Something’s bound to happen, right?
Well, in a perfect summation of the Coyotes’ season, here is captain Shane Doan almost getting injured in warmups.