The current five-team NWHL was the first women's hockey league to pay its players a salaryNWHL
NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan said that she is "working toward" establishing a single North American women's professional hockey league, according to John Wawrow of the AP. Rylan in an email wrote, “One league is inevitable. ... We will get this done. It’s on us, and we embrace the challenge.” Wawrow noted Rylan's comments come “nearly four years after she split” from the rival Canadian Women's Hockey League to “establish the NWHL, which became the first women’s hockey league to pay its players a salary.” Most observers “agree that two leagues competing for the same talent pool and limited financial resources isn’t going to last -- or help the game grow.” The U.S.-based NWHL this year “grew to five teams after expanding into Minnesota.” The CWHL, in its 12th season, “began paying its players a salary for the first time last year and has six teams," including ones in Worcester, Mass., and China. Rylan is "now echoing" what CWHL interim Commissioner Jayna Hefford said upon being named to the position in July. A source said that Rylan's comments also come after both leagues “discussed merger options this summer.” The source added that also on the table is an NWHL proposal for both league champions to "compete in an end-of-season playoff." Meanwhile, the NHL "supports the idea of one women’s pro league and has several member teams involved in both leagues." The NHL’s support of women’s hockey has "included the league stepping in at the last moment to end a wage dispute between USA Hockey and U.S. National team women players" (AP, 10/17).
A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS? In Boston, Marisa Ingemi notes the NHL's involvement may be "inevitable." Hefford said, "It's definitely something we have to look at." Rylan said of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, "(He) has been a gracious adviser to me and the NHL has been supportive, so we hold up his comments as another challenge that inspires us. Can we improve? No question about it." She added, "My hope is that over time we'll earn Gary's respect for our business and for what we're doing for hockey." Ingemi writes one league "would be a lot easier to throw support behind for the NHL" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/18). NWHL Minnesota Whitecaps F Kendall Coyne Schofield said of women's hockey in North America, "I do see it getting better in the future. What we need is one league and we want one league under the direction of the NHL, and I think that's the next big step in our game. We need to hopefully operate like a WNBA, and that's the future" (L.A. TIMES, 10/12).
