NHLPA urges USA Hockey not to use replacements

The NHL Players’ Association says it’s a bad idea for USA Hockey to recruit replacement players for the women’s world hockey championships.

USA Hockey informed players’ representatives that it will be gauging replacement players’ availability for the tournament, which begins March 31 in Plymouth, Mich.

The American players chosen to represent the defending champions have threatened to boycott the tournament unless their federation gives them more equitable treatment, financial and otherwise.

They’re looking for a four-year contract that includes payment outside the six-month Olympic period.

Several players not initially chosen for the squad said Friday on social media they had been contacted by USA Hockey and turned down an invitation to play in the world championship.

The NHLPA weighed in Friday with a statement on Twitter saying “It is important that the best American women players be on the ice for the world championship and the notion of seeking replacement players will only serve to make relations, now and in the future, much worse.

“We trust this dispute will be resolved fairly and quickly.”

The U.S. has won six of the last seven world championships, including last year’s title in Kamloops, B.C., with a 1-0 overtime win over Canada.

Meanwhile, the Canadian women held their first practice of training camp Friday in Leamington, Ont. Canada is scheduled to open the world championship March 31 against the U.S. at USA Hockey Arena.

Russia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Germany are also in the field.