The biggest story in women’s hockey over the past two weeks was one that broke the same day we last published a Women’s Hockey Wednesday. (Goodness only knows what’ll happen today!)

A total of 43 players associated with the Swedish Women’s National Team (known colloquially as the Damkronorna or the “Women’s Crowns”), including all the players invited to the national team camp, issued a statement indicating that they would not be playing for the national team and that they would not attend the upcoming Five Nations tournament in Finland that kicked off this year’s European Hockey Tournament series.

The players indicated they had ten areas of concern that they wanted the Swedish ice hockey federation to address before they would consider playing for their country again.

That tournament has now come and gone (Finland won it quite handily) and Sweden did not attend. No meeting was organized between the players’ organization and the Swedish ice hockey federation until after the tournament was well underway.

For those of us who have followed women’s sports over the last few years, a lot of things seemed awfully familiar:

Players asking for basic respect, for reasonable travel arrangements, for appropriate equipment, for a bare a minimum of financial support.

A federation claiming that since they don’t pay either national team that clearly they were being fair to everyone, and pushing off their responsibilities on others - the hockey leagues, the Olympic federation, anyone else.

A men’s hockey league stepping in to offer financial support to the women’s national team.

This particular saga has its more interesting points:

The men’s hockey league, the SHL, wondering how the money they had provided for support last season had been spent, as it seemed like about half of the money earmarked for the women hadn’t been used at all.

The women’s team talking about being sent home from a tournament in Finland via a 10 hour ferry ride to Stockholm when a flight would have taken about an hour, and indicating that supplements provided for their use were often past their best before date.

The SHL has now entered into an agreement with the women’s league, the SDHL, to provide the national team players with repayment of lost earnings when they miss time while representing Sweden for the next few years. However, the story is not at an end. The players are looking for a contract with the Swedish ice hockey federation, an agreement of at least three years, rather than arms-length agreements for compensation through the leagues. There’s also not been any mention of the other points the players raised, including travel and equipment.

Team Sweden is next scheduled to play in the Four Nations Cup at the beginning of November. This year, Sweden is hosting the annual tournament between Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden. We’ll see how far the situation has progressed by then.

Sweden: #FörFramtiden (#ForTheFuture )

Swedish women’s national team has had enough – 43 players go on strike

”It breaks our hearts that one of the first reactions for us who are awarded the recurring honor of representing our country is how much financial loss we will incur by saying yes.”

One day before the season is set to start with a training camp, the players announce that they are boycotting the national team.

43 Swedish National Team players to sit out of upcoming training camp, upcoming tournament - The Ice Garden
The Damkronorna players are boycotting due to lack of support

Why members of SICO have chosen not to participate in SIF’s national team camp– Sico - Intresseorganisationen för ishockeyspelare
Includes the 10 points the players want to see addressed.

For the future: How Team Sweden reached their limit - The Ice Garden
What #FörFramtiden means to the players of the Swedish Women’s Hockey National Team — and why it’s so necessary.

Naisleijonat head coach not surprised by Swedish puck crisis and delivered tough words to sports federations: “Letter has been in the mail all the time” | Yle Sports | yle.fi
According to Pasi Mustonen, head coach of the Lions, the Swedish national team is currently not in a position to play at the top of the world.

”No one can live on that salary” | Aftonbladet
The women’s crown strikes because of an agreement that was not extended with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.

SHL’s demands after the Women’s Crown strike: Show how the money was used | Aftonbladet
Ahead of last season, the men’s league SHL entered with SEK 400,000 in directed support to the Women’s Crowns. After the players’ national boycott, the league now demands to know what the Swedish ice hockey association has done with the money.

Mika Zibanejad: New York Rangers forward’s restaurant will donate to Swedish women’s hockey throughout year - Blueshirt Banter
#FörFramtiden

SHL and the Swedish Ice Hockey Association agree on financial compensation for the   - SDHL.se
Today, SHL and the Swedish Ice Hockey Association have agreed to continue to strengthen the conditions for the players in the Women’s crown and Swedish elite women’s hockey.

Swedish Hockey League SHL will replace women’s national team players ‘lost earnings for next three years - players’ association not yet celebrated | Yle Urheilu | yle.fi
The dispute between the Swedish women’s national team and the country’s hockey association has been sought in recent weeks.

SOK opens to give back support to Damkronorna | Aftonbladet
The Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) withdrew their financial support from the Damkronorna. One year later, players and the ice hockey association are in open conflict, including money.

PWHPA

Hilary Knight on the NWHL and fighting for a better future: ‘We’re not looking to destroy anything’ - SportsPro Media
As part of Women in Sport Week, eight-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist Hilary Knight explains why more than 200 professional women’s ice hockey players are sitting out the 2019/20 NWHL season to push for a more sustainable league.

Montréal PWHPA chapter announces first events - The Ice Garden
A website, a golf tournament, and a game!

Jayna Hefford to lead Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association - Sportsnet.ca
The Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association has named Jayna Hefford its Operations Consultant.

Canadian star Hefford named head of PWHPA
Hockey Hall of Famer Jayna Hefford, who was the interim commissioner for the CWHL when it folded this spring, will replace Bryan Hicks as the head of the PWHPA.

International hockey

Takeaways from the USA vs Canada U18 and U22 series - The Ice Garden
Canada’s U18s and USA’s U22s won their respective three-game series

2019 Women’s Hockey Top 25 Under 25 | The List - The Ice Garden
The countdown to #1 continues.

Finnish hockey players shutting out the ‘bloody taboo’
Finnish women’s hockey players are endorsing menstrual cups in a bid to shatter taboos around periods, women’s bodies, and bring attention to their sport.

IIHF - Savolainen eyes the future
Finnish blueliner who plays in Sweden embraces bigger role

EHT - Five Nations

Women Five Nations Tournament - National Teams of Ice Hockey
Box scores and stats from the tournament.

International Women’s Hockey Update: August 23rd, 2019 | CONWAY’S RUSSIAN HOCKEY BLOG
We’re going to take a look at some rosters and results for both the senior and U18 Russian women’s national teams.

Generation Shift in Female Lion - Goals Still High: “All Young People Have Gone Say It Will Be Over Here” | Yle Sports | yle.fi
The Finnish women’s hockey team opens its season on Tuesday in Vierumäki. The EHT tournament has been overshadowed by Sweden’s withdrawal just under a week before the opening match.

Female Lions tops Russia’s Nieminen and Tulus show - Finland wins first tournament of the season | Yle Sports | yle.fi
Finland beat Russia 4-2 in the final match of the home tournament.

Aurora Games

Photos: Aurora Games - The Ice Garden
The first all-women’s multi sport festival featured a fun and fast hockey game between Team Americas and Team World

Aurora Games hope for fan support | Sports | poststar.com
GLENS FALLS — Digit Murphy walked the walk Wednesday evening.

SDHL (Sweden)

Luleå’s Nathalie Ferno forced to end her hockey career | Aftonbladet
Luleå’s medical team has advised Nathalie Ferno to stop ice hockey completely. The energetic national team forward and SM gold hero has suffered repeated concussions.

NCAA

Gophers, Mavericks women’s hockey teams to meet in USHHF game | Grand Forks Herald

U Sports

Carleton's Rachel Knee Is Planting Shade Trees for Future Ravens
6-foot-2 Carleton University defender Rachel Knee went one-on-one with THW to talk about her upcoming senior season with the Ravens,

AWIHL

Rush appoint Crafter as head coach | Ice Hockey News Australia
The Adelaide Rush have announced the signing of Hayden Crafter to the position of head coach for the 2019-20 AWIHL season.

Inferno sign MacLaine | Ice Hockey News Australia
The Perth Inferno have announced the signing of American forward Nora MacLaine for the 2019-20 AWIHL season.

NWHL

2019-2020 NWHL Signing Tracker - The Ice Garden
Former RPI goalie and Team Sweden player Lovisa Selander headlines a number of European signings in the last two weeks.

Roster Recap: 14 weeks of NWHL signings - The Ice Garden
News, notes, and rosters from around the league

Boston Pride land Swedish goaltender Lovisa Selander - The Ice Garden
The RPI alumna is the NCAA Division I record holder for career saves

VEDA continues its sponsorship of the NWHL - The Ice Garden
For the second straight year, the NWHL’s Player of the Week Award will be presented by VEDA

NWHL reaches agreement to resume use of Beauts’ trademarks | Sports | tucson.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The National Women’s Hockey League has reached an “amicable agreement” to resume using the Buffalo Beauts’ logos and trademarked materials in resolving its lawsuit with the

Beauts will host Riveters in first ever outdoor game in NWHL history - The Ice Garden
It turns out Buffalo CAN have nice things!!

Women's Hockey