NWHL Women's Pro League

[SeymoreHockey]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

They throw a tiny bit of cash to the players and call it "professional", then the players have to "fundraise" to keep the team and essentially the entire association afloat. I feel bad for the players, but this is the reality. My D tried this league and had to quit because of REAL work demands. Team management expected players to put the team before career. Paying players this tiny amount and then expecting them to basically give up their chosen career is just unfair and frankly not realistic. If you want a legitimate professional league, then start paying the players so that they can call themselves "professional" without having to rely on secondary job and fundraising to survive.

I understand it's in the "fledgling" stage, but unless it keeps growing and becoming real, these minor hockey leagues are doomed.

this is one of the reasons student athletes in canada come to schools in the USA. to get away from people like this guy...and the other is that they must like the USA national anthem better.

if what you are stating were correct what would it matter to you? professional or extension. they get to play.
just so you understand...if a player gets a full scholarship to Wisconsin she's ultimately being paid to go to school, eh? I don't think $60k per year for a 18-22 yr old is anything to shake a stick at. it doesn't matter what you call it. it's money.

is this Don Cherry?

 

[ARM]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

I understand it's in the "fledgling" stage, but unless it keeps growing and becoming real, these minor hockey leagues are doomed.

They are minor in that they can't pay major league money and get minor league interest, but you can't just open the doors and roll out the women's version of the NHL. In terms of talent, it is better than simply minor league. You can get rid of your quotes on professional, because even minor pro leagues are still professional once the players get paid. Somebody has to be the pioneer. I understand that it didn't work for your daughter, and that's going to be a problem for many potential players. It requires a lot of sacrifice, and that is unfortunate. But I do think the NWHL is coming from the best intentions of wanting to provide options for the players by making sound financial decisions. That's part of the dilemma; once you pay players, there is a greater expectation of commitment than on a team like the Minnesota Whitecaps where nobody gets paid and players show up on a best-effort basis.

 

[sasnyc]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

They throw a tiny bit of cash to the players and call it "professional", then the players have to "fundraise" to keep the team and essentially the entire association afloat. I feel bad for the players, but this is the reality. My D tried this league and had to quit because of REAL work demands. Team management expected players to put the team before career. Paying players this tiny amount and then expecting them to basically give up their chosen career is just unfair and frankly not realistic. If you want a legitimate professional league, then start paying the players so that they can call themselves "professional" without having to rely on secondary job and fundraising to survive.

First time poster. I find it hard to believe that a father of an accomplished hockey player would be so dismissive and insulting to the NWHL when it is opening up an avenue for women to play when their college careers are done. The league was set up to allow women to play hockey without giving up their day jobs. Others are doing it... not sure why you are biting a hand that is trying to feed your daughter... if you really have a daughter who is pro-caliber, I am sure she does not share your bitterness towards the NWHL.

 

[zoofer]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

On the Nosie ARM, plus it might be nice if the NHL subsidized the women's leagues as the NBA did for the WNBA....either that or every so, brother, and Dad supports his kid or sibling!!

 

[D2D]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

On the Nosie ARM, plus it might be nice if the NHL subsidized the women's leagues as the NBA did for the WNBA....either that or every so, brother, and Dad supports his kid or sibling!!

The biggest cause of low attendance for women's hockey (all levels) is that way too many of those parents and relatives stop going to games once their player's playing days are over.

 

[SeymoreHockey]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

First time poster. I find it hard to believe that a father of an accomplished hockey player would be so dismissive and insulting to the NWHL when it is opening up an avenue for women to play when their college careers are done. The league was set up to allow women to play hockey without giving up their day jobs. Others are doing it... not sure why you are biting a hand that is trying to feed your daughter... if you really have a daughter who is pro-caliber, I am sure she does not share your bitterness towards the NWHL.

I'm not being dismissive, I'm being honest. Yes, it's a great place for ex-collegiates to play. And yes, the hockey's pretty good. But the behind the scenes stuff is not conducive to ensuring long-term viability. My daughter loves to play hockey and quit because team management pressured her to forego a lucrative career that she studied hard for during her NCAA years, in exchange for playing time for a "salary" that wouldn't pay for her gas to get to the game. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it was a few years ago. (I may have changed a bit today, but I don't think so.) Talk to the players on the Calgary/Edmonton team...if there still is one. Their setup was even more ludicrous. (Splitting practices between the cities, every other week; flying to EVERY away game, etc.) I'm just saying that in today's environment, management of these leagues have to be more forward thinking.

I agree that an affiliation/sponsorship agreement with a large corporation (ScotiaBank for example) or an NHL or even AHL team would go a long way to helping establish these franchises and help boost attendance and recognition. Take the heat off the players. Make it more attractive to actually play professional hockey without worrying about fundraising to save the viability of the team; getting benched for missing a practice or game because of work (which is required to pay the bills). Hopefully it will change and grow, but so far it has not.

Oh, and yes she is just as frustrated as I am. She loves the game and misses it dearly!

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

My D tried this league and had to quit because of REAL work demands. Team management expected players to put the team before career. Paying players this tiny amount and then expecting them to basically give up their chosen career is just unfair and frankly not realistic. If you want a legitimate professional league, then start paying the players so that they can call themselves "professional" without having to rely on secondary job and fundraising to survive.

Markets dictate revenue and revenue dictates pay levels - low revenue = low wages. I would not say that the current league is unfair - players were told exactly what the wage was and what the expectation was. They made a conscious decision to sign up and play against those wages and expectations. That is not unfair - it is a life choice. Whether the model is unrealistic is a different discussion altogether...

 

[Rightnut]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

I'm not being dismissive, I'm being honest. Yes, it's a great place for ex-collegiates to play. And yes, the hockey's pretty good. But the behind the scenes stuff is not conducive to ensuring long-term viability. My daughter loves to play hockey and quit because team management pressured her to forego a lucrative career that she studied hard for during her NCAA years, in exchange for playing time for a "salary" that wouldn't pay for her gas to get to the game. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it was a few years ago. (I may have changed a bit today, but I don't think so.) Talk to the players on the Calgary/Edmonton team...if there still is one. Their setup was even more ludicrous. (Splitting practices between the cities, every other week; flying to EVERY away game, etc.) I'm just saying that in today's environment, management of these leagues have to be more forward thinking.

I agree that an affiliation/sponsorship agreement with a large corporation (ScotiaBank for example) or an NHL or even AHL team would go a long way to helping establish these franchises and help boost attendance and recognition. Take the heat off the players. Make it more attractive to actually play professional hockey without worrying about fundraising to save the viability of the team; getting benched for missing a practice or game because of work (which is required to pay the bills). Hopefully it will change and grow, but so far it has not.

Oh, and yes she is just as frustrated as I am. She loves the game and misses it dearly!

Are you guys talking about the same league? The NWHL is brand new and does pay the players something. Your complaints may still be valid but it sounds like the discussion is apples to oranges.

 

[zoofer]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

Very valid point D2D....I think that people don't realize that no matter the sport, the woman's play of said sport is its own game! When/if they go to a woman's game, they compare the play-speed-execution of the game to when they saw men play the same sport.....if this is the case, I think with time, women will develop their own fan base and markets and therefore sponsors.....the more that women's sports can be seen on TV, online, whatever the medium, the better the chance to develop......imagine if there was an ESPN Women's channel....as for attracting sponsors, look at how
P&G developed they're association with the mother's of Olympian athletes......

 

[Genbeau]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

About 15 years ago I met NHL Hall Of Famer Ted Lindsay and was able to speak to him about MANY things hockey. One of the things he mentioned was the salaries of today's players compared to when he played. He said when he played, hockey was really considered more supplemental income and their "Real Jobs" (and real dough) started when they left the rink, picking up especially when hockey season ended. Give the women some time.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: NWHL Women's Pro League

About 15 years ago I met NHL Hall Of Famer Ted Lindsay and was able to speak to him about MANY things hockey. One of the things he mentioned was the salaries of today's players compared to when he played. He said when he played, hockey was really considered more supplemental income and their "Real Jobs" (and real dough) started when they left the rink, picking up especially when hockey season ended. Give the women some time.

One of my dad's cousins was a truck driver except for a few weeks every fall when he was an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers, he left when Lombardi arrived & insisted they be sober on game day. It's not that long ago that sports was a part time job for everyone but baseball players.