USA Hockey Reaches Out To Potential Women's Team Replacements

USA Hockey has "reached out to Division III college players, as well as postgraduate college players, as potential replacements" for the women's national team that has threatened to boycott the IIHF Women's World Championship, now less than a week away (ESPNW.com, 3/25). USA Hockey has "hit up high school ranks" as well (USATODAY.com, 3/25).

Several players said that they "rejected overtures from USA Hockey to serve as replacements," posting "messages on social media saying they support the national team and would decline or have declined any outreach from USA Hockey" (AP, 3/25). USA Hockey sponsor Dunkin' Donuts "declined to say whether it would consider pulling its funding." However, Dunkin' VP/Field Marketing Tom Manchester said, "We support the current members of the U.S. team." Other USA Hockey sponsors Nike, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Liberty Mutual and Marriott "did not return messages." Toyota opted not to comment (USATODAY.com, 3/24).