U.S. Women's National Hockey Team receiving major support in USA Hockey dispute
Players on the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team received support from one major USA Hockey sponsor along with two professional sports unions on Friday as their threatened boycott of the IIHF Women's World Championship over improved wages and resources continues.
While Dunkin' Donuts, one of USA Hockey’s marquee backers, declined to say whether it would consider pulling its funding, an executive told USA TODAY Sports in an email that the company is “committed to supporting female athletes and the continued growth and popularity of women’s hockey in particular.”
“We support the current members of the U.S. team, and hope there is a resolution quickly that will allow them to represent the United States in the upcoming World Championships," said Tom Manchester, vice president of field marketing for Dunkin' Donuts.
A message left with USA Hockey on Friday was not immediately returned.
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Four other notable USA Hockey sponsors — Nike, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Liberty Mutual and Marriott — did not return messages left by USA TODAY Sports. Nick Ammazzalorso, a spokesman for Toyota, said the car company and USA Hockey backer was “going to pass on commenting. “
Negotiations to end the stalemate ahead of the World Championship — which is set to begin March 31 — haven't progressed since a group of players and their representatives met with USA Hockey officials in Philadelphia on Monday. USA Hockey confirmed Thursday that it had begun to seek out replacement players. At least 20 have already said “no” via Twitter.
The players declining all wrote the message "Today I will do what others won't so tomorrow I can do what others can’t. I said no to USAH & will not play in the 2017WC," followed by #BeBoldForChange, the hashtag members of the boycotting U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team used earlier Friday in posts on Instagram and Twitter.
The players’ unions for the NHL and MLB also voiced support of the players on Twitter.