Women players dispute USA Hockey numbers on wages
Women players are calling USA Hockey’s characterization of their wage demands “patently false” after the organization stated it would exceed $8 million in an Olympic year and $5.7 million in a non-Olympic year.
USA Hockey posted compensation estimates on its website Friday and said it would contact players’ lawyers in an effort to resolve the ongoing labour dispute. Players have threatened to boycott the upcoming world championships on home ice unless significant progress is made toward a new contract after 14 months of negotiations.
USA Hockey estimated a rate of $237,000 per player for winning gold at the Olympics and $149,000 per player in non-Olympic years.
Players said it failed to distinguish between money paid by USA Hockey and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson said USA Hockey’s response was confusing, and fellow star forward Hilary Knight called the valuations “funny at best.”