Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 28 March 2017
Senators urge USA Hockey to end dispute with women’s team

STEPHEN WHYNO ican-born Buffalo Sabres push for equality in athlet-
AP Hockey Writer defenseman, went to ics,” the senators wrote.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Six- high school with U.S. cap- In a statement Sunday
teen U.S. senators wrote a tain Meghan Duggan. He night, players said they
letter to USA Hockey’s ex- tweeted his support and hoped USA Hockey would
ecutive director Monday said he hopes the dispute is approve terms discussed
over their concerns about resolved. The U.S. is the de- during a meeting last week.
the treatment of the wom- fending champion at the They said the agreement
en’s national team. International Ice Hockey has the “potential to be a
Players have threatened Women’s World Champi- game changer for every-
to boycott the upcoming onship, which begins Friday one.”
world championships over in Plymouth, Michigan. The letter was signed by:
a wage dispute. The sena- In negotiations over the Elizabeth Warren and Ed-
tors, all Democrats, urged past 15 months, players ward Markey of Massa-
David Ogrean to resolve have asked for a four-year chusetts, Patty Murray of
the matter and ensure the contract that pays them Washington, Dianne Fein-
team receives “equitable outside the six-month Olym- stein of California, Patrick
resources.” They cited the pic period. The senators’ Leahy of Vermont, Richard
Ted Stevens Olympic and letter notes the $6,000 that Blumenthal of Connecti-
Amateur Sports Act. players earn around the cut, Maggie Hassan of New
USA Hockey’s board of di- Olympics and USA Hock- Hampshire, Sherrod Brown
rectors meets Monday, and In this March 14, 2017 file photo, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. ey’s $3.5 million annual of Ohio, Thomas Carper of
players said Sunday night speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Associated Press spending on the men’s na- Delaware, Tammy Bald-
they hope there’s a deal. tional team development win of Wisconsin, Robert
The senators, all Democrats, weekend they stood with “Word circulating among program and other dis- Menendez and Cory Book-
joined a chorus of support the women’s team and NHL players that American crepancies. er of New Jersey, Mazie Hi-
that includes unions rep- criticized USA Hockey for players will refuse to play “These elite athletes in- rono of Hawaii, Bob Casey
resenting players from the attempting to find replace- in men’s World Champion- deed deserve fairness and of Pennsylvania, Kirsten
NHL, NBA, NFL and Major ment players. ships in solidarity with the respect, and we hope you Gillibrand of New York
League Baseball. Those or- Prominent NHL agent Al- women.” will be a leader on this is- and Amy Klobuchar of
ganizations said over the lan Walsh tweeted Sunday, Zach Bogosian, an Amer- sue as women continue to Minnesota.q