Swedish women hockey stars in battle
Boycott tournament, training camp over pay
STOCKHOLM — The top female hockey players in Sweden refused to attend training camp Thursday or play in an upcoming international tournament in Finland, the latest such move by a women’s national team to get better compensation.
The Swedish Ice Hockey Federation said it had been informed of the looming boycott and was “surprised” at the decision.
A total of 43 national team players are involved in the boycott, which is seemingly about the lack of compensation they receive while playing with the national team. The players were scheduled to attend a five-day camp starting Thursday outside Stockholm, ahead of the Five Nations Tournament — also involving Russia, Japan, Czech Republic and host Finland — beginning Tuesday.
A statement was posted on social media by Sweden player Erika Grahm, saying the action is being taken to “develop and create better conditions” in the national team to show “encouragement and respect” for current and future generations. It said the players’ demands are not “unreasonable,” but didn’t disclose the specific issues.
The move is similar to what happened two years ago in North America, where the U.S. women’s national hockey team threatened to boycott the 2017 world championships on home ice, demanding more pay and treatment similar to what the men’s team receives. They reached a four-year agreement with USA Hockey that increased pay up to $4,000 per month with the ability to make around $71,000 annually and up to $129,000 in Olympic years.
The World Cup champion U.S. women’s soccer team is also in a fight for more compensation, with that dispute likely headed to court.
Many of Sweden’s players have full-time jobs away from the rink, so must fit games around work schedules and family needs.
“Many of us have borne the frustration that led to today’s decision for several years,” the statement read. “Now it’s all about the younger generation not having to do it.”
The Swedish federation said it gives no compensation to players on the women’s or men’s national teams, and that it instead comes through a financial agreement between the leagues and the top club teams.
This agreement, the federation added, was renewed for the 201920 season and uses the “same model that applied to men’s hockey for many years.” Calls to board members of the federation went unanswered Thursday.
Sweden, traditionally one of the world’s best teams, failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the world championship in Finland in April after losing three of its four group matches. That meant the team was relegated for the first time in its history and will compete in Division IA of the 2020 women’s world finals.