Women’s national team agrees to new wage deal with USA Hockey

USA Hockey and the women’s national team reached a wage agreement to avoid a boycott of the world championships.

Players and USA Hockey announced the deal in a joint statement just three days before the tournament begins in Plymouth, Michigan. It’s a four-year agreement that pays players outside of the six-month Olympic period.

Players are set to travel to Plymouth on Wednesday and open the defense of their gold medal Friday against Canada. The U.S. has won six of the past eight world championships.

■ HURRICANES: Carolina says Eddie Lack is out of the hospital and has a neck strain after the goalie was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher following a frightening collision on the final play of an overtime loss to Detroit.

Lack was hurt when Detroit’s Andreas Athanasiou crashed into him while scoring the winning goal Monday night. Athanasiou was hit by Carolina’s Victor Rask before colliding with Lack.