Professional women's hockey "seemed poised to make great leaps forward last year" after the NHL's All-Star Skills Competition, "but there hasn't been much to talk about it lately," according to Kevin McGran of the TORONTO STAR. The CWHL "folded last spring after 12 seasons," while top players in the NWHL are "boycotting that league at the same time." Hockey HOFer and former interim CWHL Commissioner Jayna Hefford cited the "need for a long-term sustainable solution to women's hockey, which ultimately is a truly professional league." The Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association, formed in May, "barnstormed through the fall, playing well-attended tournaments in Toronto, New Hampshire and Chicago." But "nothing is posted on the association's event calendar for November or December or 2020." Hefford, the association's operations consultant, said that announcements "are forthcoming." But it will "soon be time for the various national programs to start preparing" for the IIHF Women's World Championship in Halifax. McGran noted as of now, the NHL "has been silent" (TORONTO STAR, 11/4).
GLOBAL INTEREST? In Pittsburgh, Mike DeFabo writes, "At a time when women's hockey is growing in popularity and participation, professional opportunities are limited and waning." According to the IIHF, in '18 nearly 200,000 women were playing hockey across the world, "up from 170,000" in '10. That represents a 17.6% increase. The NWHL has "outlined ways that it's progressed, including increased salaries and a 50-50 revenue split for league-wide sponsorships and media rights deals." But still, most of the top players have "continued to push for something more" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/7).
