Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
Tuesday 21 May 2019

Pro women

hockey

players form KAWHI- IT

union in

step toward RIOT

league

By TERESA M. WALKER
More than 200 of the
world's top women's hock-
ey players have formed
a union, saying they must
"stand together" if there is
to be a sustainable profes-
sional league.
The Professional Women's
Hockey Players Associa-
tion (PWHPA) said Monday
the paperwork was filed
Friday to help push for the
creation of a "single, vi-
able women's professional
league in North America."
The women had an-
nounced earlier this month
their pledge to sit out the
upcoming season in North
America after the Cana-
dian Women's Hockey
League abruptly shut
down this year. That leaves
only the National Women's
Hockey League, which
took back control of the
Buffalo Beauts on May 8.
The PWHPA said in a state-
ment the association also
will help players coordi-
nate training needs and
opportunities and develop
sponsor support.
"We are fortunate to be
ambassadors of this beau-
tiful game, and it is our re-
sponsibility to make sure
the next generation of
players have more oppor-
tunities than we had," Ken-
dall Coyne Schofield said
in a statement. "It's time to
stand together and work
to create a viable league
that will allow us to enjoy Raptors beat Bucks 118-112 in 2 OTs
the benefits of our hard
work." Coyne Schofield
won Olympic gold with the
U.S. in 2018 and was an
NWHL All-Star with the Min- Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) fights to shoot over Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during the second
nesota Whitecaps this past half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals in Toronto, Sunday, May 19, 2019.
season. Associated Press
Continued on Page 23 Page 19