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sports Wednesday 19 January 2022
Women's hockey league to increase salary cap, add 2 teams

By JOHN WAWROW AP mer.
Hockey Writer PHF teams are now private-
The Premier Hockey Feder- ly owned, though some
ation is more than doubling ownership groups control
each teams' salary cap to more than one franchise.
$750,000 and adding two Upon being founded as a
expansion franchises next start-up four-team venture
season in a bid to capital- in 2015 by Dani Rylan Ke-
ize on the wave of atten- arny, the league previously
tion women's hockey tradi- controlled all its franchises
tionally enjoys following the and relied on outside in-
Winter Olympics. vestors to make up the rev-
The PHF's announcement enue gap from ticket and
on Tuesday of its board of merchandise sales to pay
governors' commitment to for salary, travel and ad-
invest more than $25 million ministrative costs.
over the next three years The instability of the busi-
is also considered a major ness model led to the NWHL
step in attempting to thaw slashing players salaries by
its relationship with United more than half in its sec-
States and Canadian na- ond season. The move led
tional team players, who to a distrust among play-
have balked at joining ers, some of whom bolted
North America's lone pro- ing forward with plans to have control over their like- was able to generate those to play for the Canadian
fessional women's hockey establish a team in Mon- ness for marketing opportu- agreements based on this Women's Hockey League,
league. treal and, without disclos- nities. being an Olympic year. which folded in May 2019.
"It's an amazing investment ing where, adding another "This is the time to double- "This is a very pivotal time The CWHL's demise led
by the ownership, and it re- expansion franchise in the down," PHF board of gover- in women's hockey. There's to the world's top players
ally reaffirms the strength United States. nors chairman John Boyn- no denying the impact the forming the Professional
of their commitment to The boost in the cap from ton said. "We think this is a Olympics have on the inter- Women's Hockey Players'
being a difference-maker $300,000 this season will giant step forward of mak- est in the women's game Association in a united bid
in women's hockey," PHF lead to an average sal- ing it possible for the best and how the the land- to establish a single North
Commissioner Ty Tumminia ary of $37,500 based on a women's hockey players scape can change after American professional
told The Associated Press. 20-player minimum roster or to earn a living playing the Beijing," she said. league — ideally backed
"It's important for us to ad- $30,000 for a league-maxi- game they love." The PHF currently has teams by the NHL — with a long-
vance to our next season mum 25-player roster. There The league doubled its based in Boston, Toronto, term sustainable economic
and be crystal clear about will be no limits placed on salary cap already from Monmouth Junction, New model.
the direction we're head- a player's salary as long as $150,000 a year ago, while Jersey, St. Paul, Minnesota, The PWHPA has spent the
ed, and what framework the team's overall payroll also adding an expansion Danbury, Connecticut, past two years holding
will be so that all athletes remains under the cap. team in Toronto. and Buffalo, New York. a series of barnstorming
can make an informed The cash influx will also lead The PHF has made numer- The fast-tracked approach weekend events called the
decision about their ca- to the PHF providing full ous sponsorship and broad- follows two years in which "Dream Gap Tour" across
reers," Tumminia added, health-care benefits to its casting inroads over the the PHF overhauled its busi- North America.
noting the timing of the an- players, improving facilities past year, including having ness and ownership model, Tumminia believes the PHF's
nouncement comes two and increasing the num- games aired on ESPN-Plus and underwent a rebrand- latest investment, and the
weeks before the Winter ber of practices. Players will in the U.S. and Canada's ing by changing its name inclusion of health-care
Games open in Beijing. also gain a 10% equity in TSN. from the National Women's benefits, meets the PWH-
The six-team PHF is mov- their respective team and Tumminia noted the league Hockey League last sum- PA's vision.q

Murray's first playoff start a nightmare for Cardinals

By JOE REEDY completed 19 of 34 passes brought down for a safety
AP Sports Writer for 137 yards and two inter- in the second quarter be-
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — ceptions. "I put a lot on my fore throwing an ill-advised
Kyler Murray's first NFL play- shoulders. To play the way I pass that was picked off
off start quickly turned into did was disappointing." by David Long for a 3-yard
a nightmare. The Cardinals went three- touchdown return to make
The dynamic quarterback and-out on their first four it 21-0.
and his Arizona Cardinals possessions, the first time Murray was unable to
teammates had about the that's happened in a play- find any success throwing
worst start imaginable in off game in at least 10 sea- downfield. He completed
Monday night's 34-11 loss sons. They were outgained only one pass beyond 15
to the Los Angeles Rams in 180-40 in the first half and air yards on eight attempts,
the NFC wild-card round. averaged just 1.5 yards per and 11 of his 34 attempts
By the time the Cardinals play, the second-worst av- were passes behind the line
got their initial first down, erage in a playoff game of scrimmage. of the best pass rushers ing 122 yards per game,
they were trailing 21-0 mid- over the last 20 seasons. "It just got out of hand ear- along with good players on but were held to a season-
way through the second Murray was under pres- ly. You have to be able to the back end," Murray said. low 61 against the Rams.
quarter. sure from the start. He run the ball on those guys. The Cardinals came into Murray had a season-low
"We didn't even make it a was sacked twice in the When you get into a pass- the game 10th in the two rushing attempts and
game," said Murray, who first half and was nearly ing game, they have three league in rushing, averag- gained six yards.q