NWHL Announces Formation of Player’s Association

The NWHL has announced team representatives to serve on the NWHL Player’s Association (NWHLPA) for the 2015-16 season.

In Thursday’s announcement, the league announced that each team will send two players to the NWHLPA. They will be elected by teammates and the NWHLPA will have former Olympian Erika Lawler as its director.

With a focus of the NWHL being treating players well, which includes ensuring that they’re paid, it will be the NWHLPA’s “responsibility to make sure we create an entity that works towards creating an optimal experience for the players,” Lawler said.

“It’s important to continue down the path of structuring a league around what’s in the best interest of the players. These women are the league’s most important employees. They are the product. They must be provided with the support they need to continue growing the sport of women’s hockey.”

The team representatives for the 2015-16 season will be Emily Pfalzer and Meghan Duggan from the Buffalo Beauts (the team’s captain and assistant captain), Kelli Stack and Kaleigh Fratkin from the Connecticut Whale, Celeste Brown and Taylor Holze from the New York Riveters, and Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker from the Boston Price (the team’s co-captains).

“There is a lot of work to be done, but I am confident we have taken a huge step in the right direction,” Lawler added.

It’s a big development for the league as it continues on in its inaugural season and returns to game action this weekend following a brief break for the Four Nations Cup in Sweden.