It’s been over three months since the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) announced that it was ceasing operations due to severe financial difficulties. And while the league is officially dead, its players are still owed more than $230,000.
Well.. at least they were until the NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Hockey Canada stepped up to foot the bill. According to a report from Hailey Salvian of The Athletic, the above organizations, along with the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, have made donations to ensure that the players get their full pay from the 2018-19 season.
Check it out:
“We have received payments from organizations like the NHL, Hockey Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Ontario Women’s Hockey Association,” said Laurel Walzak, who chairs the CWHL board. “(Adrienne Clarkson) also brought forward a private donor who made a significant donation to make sure players got paid their bonuses.”
The league, which ran for 12 seasons was the first women’s hockey league in history to pay its players a salary, which ranged from $2,000 per season to a maximum of $10,000 with a team salary cap of $100,000.
With the CWHL officially shuttering and with 200+ women’s players boycotting the upcoming 2019-20 National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) season to raise awareness for a sustainable women’s hockey league, there are literally no professional options for women’s hockey players and fans next season.
