Women say bargaining with USA Hockey ‘productive’

USA Hockey and the women’s national team say their marathon meeting Monday was productive and they hope to have an agreement this week that will end their ongoing wage dispute and avoid a boycott of the upcoming world championship.

The sides met for more than 10 hours Monday in Philadelphia and will continue discussions later this week. Players announced last week they’d boycott the March 31 world championships in Plymouth, Mich., unless significant progress was made toward a labour deal.

Players said they were hopeful to get an agreement in time to have a training camp and prepare to defend their world championship gold medal on home ice.

“We feel like we made progress today,” star forward Jocelyne Lamoureux- Davidson said by phone. “They were productive, and we are hopeful that we can come to a timely agreement that would get us to Plymouth in time to prepare as a team so that we could compete in worlds.”

Lamoureux- Davidson, twin sister Monique Lamoureux- Morando, captain Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight, Kacey Bellamy and Kendal Coyne were among the players who took part in the meeting on the players’ side. President Jim Smith, executive director Dave Ogrean, treasurer Donna Guariglia and director of women’s hockey Reagan Carey were among those representing USA Hockey.

Players said negotiations with USA Hockey had been ongoing for 14 months over fair wages and equitable support.

“We’re hopeful, I guess,” Lamoureux- Davidson said. “This morning (we thought), ‘ Wait and see how this goes,’ and after today we’re all hopeful that we can make something work with USA Hockey.