Women’s hockey enter new era following CWHL ceasing operations

By Cody Wall

Following the ceasing operations of Canada’s largest women’s hockey league, questions regarding the future of women’s hockey begin to come up.

On March 31, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League board of directors announced the league would be ceasing all operations May 1, 2019, after 12 years of operation. The news is following a record-breaking viewership for the Clarkson Cup. This was in relation to the game being broadcasted on the NHL Network and Sportsnet.

Following the news, Les Canadiennes de Montreal forward and two-time Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin, took to Twitter to talk about the league folding and the concerns about the future of women’s hockey.

“This morning we were informed the CWHL is folding,” said Poulin. “As players, we will do our best to find a solution so this isn’t our last season of hockey but it’s hard to remain optimistic.”

It is believed that a major factor in the decision to fold the league was the inability to make enough money to support their players. In 2017-18 the CWHL began paying their players salaries ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

Another factor in the decision is the fact that there were two leagues competing against one another in North America. In 2015, the National Women’s Hockey League was established, featuring a four team league where players would be paid an annual minimum salary of $10,000, compared to the minimum of $2,000 in the CWHL. On top of the salaries, players would receive 15 per cent of the profit of all NWHL jerseys sold. However, salaries have been decreased in recent seasons due to financial reasons. The NWHL has since expanded to a seven team league following Montreal and Toronto franchises being announced in April 2019.

Sheri Hudspeth is a former NCAA Division 1 hockey player who, while saddened by the news, believes in the long run the folding of the CWHL is best for the future of women’s hockey.

“I have always been for one league. Before they had the star players and talent spread across two leagues and it was confusing even for someone who follows women’s hockey,” said Hudspeth. “I’m hoping with one league the product that they ice is going to be that much better as there will be that much more competition for roster spots and hopefully with some NHL support we can continue to show off the level of talent that exists in the women’s game.”

Hudspeth also said by having one league it allows young girls to watch all their idols compete against each other on one stage.

“I know growing up I had a Manon Rheume poster on my wall and it gave me hope that maybe one day I could play in the NHL,” said Hudspeth. “Now maybe they will have a [Hilary] Knight poster and they can aspire to one day play in the NWHL.”

Mark Whitney is an avid supporter of women’s hockey, attending women’s games and tournaments across North America and overseas in Finland and Sweden. Whitney hopes by going to one league it will allow the NWHL to expand and grow.

“If they had a league with eight teams playing hockey like that I’d watch it on TV and go to live games. I hope that out of this comes one strong league,” said Whitney.

Only time will tell how the new one league system will grow but for CWHL stars like Poulin and Natalie Spooner the hunt to find a new team begins.