Over 200 players set to sit out upcoming professional season

At least 200 players from across the NWHL, now-former CWHL, and SDHL announced via a coordinated tweet that they “will not play in ANY professional leagues in North America this season.”

The tweets were all the same using the same language, hashtag, and statement. They are rallying around the hashtag #ForTheGame.

We may represent different teams, leagues and countries but collectively we stand as one. #ForTheGame pic.twitter.com/rnxr7KkfiQ

— Liz Knox (@27Knoxy) May 2, 2019

The players are asking for health insurance and better pay in order to continue to advance the game. They recognize they are working for the future of the game as well themselves.

The boycott comes on the heels of the CWHL officially ceasing operations on May 1.

The efforts ring similarly to Team USA’s Be Bold For Change boycott of the 2017 IIHF World Championships. The entirety of the USA Hockey pipeline came together as the senior National Team prepared to sit out the tournament being played in the US. The players were asking for equal pay and better support for the women’s program.

This isn’t the first time the NWHL has seen its players rally together to make changes in the young league. In the middle of season two, after the players salaries were cut, the players banded together to ask for more transparency from the front office, including on insurance issues.

This is a developing story and we will update as more becomes available.