The U.S. women's national hockey team will open its world title defense on Friday at 7:30pm ET at USA Hockey Arena against Canada, and the players' "biggest challenge may be to overcome the feeling that they have already won because of their success" at the bargaining table over fair wages, according to Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. U.S. F Meghan Duggan said, "It is absolutely historic. I think it shows girls and women within sport or without sport: Do more, be more, be better and put pressure on people. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in. I think that’s really important, and, if we can be role models in that aspect, I’m certainly proud to do so." U.S. F Monique Lamoureux-Morando said that the new deal "opens the door for her to play in her third Olympics." Lamoureux-Morando: "Now my conversation with my husband changes to, ‘Is it going to be more of a burden to continue to play and work and be a mom?' I don’t have to choose now. I don’t have to choose between being a mom and being a hockey player. I can do both." Even the Canadians "sent congratulatory texts to the Americans after their deal was done." U.S. F Hilary Knight said that the American players’ "hope is that their fight will impact the women’s sports worldwide." Knight: "We were leaning on U.S. Soccer a lot. We had Julie Foudy weighing in and a bunch of the other amazing athletes. Alex Morgan. Abby Wambach. It’s good to have a sisterhood" (USA TODAY, 3/31).
JOB WELL DONE: SI.com's Michael Blinn noted the contract agreed to between the team and USA Hockey is the "culmination of year-and-a-half long negotiations that went beyond financial support for the players, including requests for comparable travel, insurance, marketing and player development as the men’s team." The creation of an advisory committee will "play a role in helping the program gain exposure going forward." It will be "filled out with current and former players along with USA Hockey officials and outside marketing." U.S. F Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson said, "That piece of this negotiation has been underrated. (It’s) going to help grow women's hockey from the grassroots level in the U.S." She added, “Our message was resonating, not just with hockey players, but athletes of both genders of all sports. ... We transcended hockey. It was about sticking up for yourself, standing up for what you believe is right and doing what you can to change the current situation so the next generation can benefit" (SI.com, 3/30). In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan wrote, "It's a huge win for women's hockey." Sullivan: "Granted, international events are big business, but there's no justification for the financial imbalance. It shouldn't be a question of attendance or TV ratings. They should be treated as equals" (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/30). In Detroit, Gregg Krupa writes under the header, "Women's Hockey Team Winners, No Matter How Tourney Goes" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/31). In Buffalo, Amy Moritz writes it is a "bad look when the best players in the world, the ones you want winning gold medal after gold medal, are living in their parents' basement." USA Hockey "eventually came around" (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/31).
EYES ON THE FUTURE: In N.Y., Neal Boudette notes this year’s world championship in Michigan is "perhaps the starkest example of the support the organization gives to teenage boys." USA Hockey acquired the rink in '15 as a "home for the development program." The rink includes a "lavish training facility, with an indoor track, a weight room, a skating treadmill and a shooting cage -- amenities few college teams can boast." Lamoureux-Davidson said, "We want the U-18 girls and the younger generation to have a home like this and to be able to play in a place like this. That’s what we strive for" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/31).
