If PWHL stars begin suffering regular injuries at Rivalry Series events, at what point will the PWHL pull the plug viewing the event as a threat to their business model.
If PWHL stars begin suffering regular injuries at Rivalry Series events, at what point will the PWHL pull the plug viewing the event as a threat to their business model.
Taylor Heise in a sling. Erin Ambrose missing the entire PWHL preseason. The wear and tear on veterans like Ann-Renee Desbiens, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight, and Megan Keller that teams may not realize until after World Championships.
How much of this is the Mark Walter Group and PWHL willing to accept in the name of the Rivalry Series, which by definition within the PWHL / PWHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is not an official "International Break."
According to Article 10 - Time Off, Section 10.5 of the CBA, "The League shall not schedule any games during IIHF international breaks and the Olympics (“International Breaks”). The League and Players on Teams not participating in international competition, unless during an International Break, shall remain in market and participate in any scheduled training or other activities."
Since the Rivalry Series is not an official IIHF or Olympic competition, and is not specifically mentioned in the CBA, it's conceivable the PWHL could see the series as a threat to their business model if star players continue to be injured.
It's long been a debate between the NHL and NHLPA when examining the Olympic Games, and it's in part why the NHL tried to fill the desire for international competition with their own version of the World Cup, where players were still insured under the NHL's CBA, and where profits benefited the NHL.
When Taylor Heise suffered her injury in game seven of the Rivalry Series on February 11, three days before the league was scheduled to resume play, it was the first star to be kept out of PWHL regular season action as a direct result of Rivalry Series play. Her upper body injury will result in multiple missed games for the first overall pick. Erin Ambrose previously missed the entirety of the PWHL's preseason and most of training camp returning just in time for the regular season to begin. Considering the PWHL's short season, even two games equates to nearly 10% of the season, which would equate to roughly a month long injury to an NHL star.
Before this season, the Rivalry Series was the lone opportunity for the majority of North American national team players to compete in highly competitive games while they prepared for international competition. With the PWHL now in full swing, these players are competing weekly against elite competition, and are practicing daily with teammates rather than once per month.
For the players, the CBA does not explicitly protect or provide for players injured outside of PWHL activities. Under Article 11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which deals with Mental Health, Physical Condition, Medical Examinations, Injuries, and Collection of Data, Section 11.4 (a) appears to define injuries incurred under the PWHL's watch more specifically. The injuries covered within the CBA are stated as injuries "sustained during the course and scope of the Player’s employment as a PWHL Player (i.e., an on-ice or training-related injury, provided that such training program was prescribed or approved by the Player’s Team)."
It's why the league wrote in Article 26 (b) within the CBA related to Hazardous Actitivites stating "Players ... are forbidden from engaging in activities that may involve significant risk of personal injury or illness, including, but not limited to...any competitive game (that is, other than a casual pickup game) or exhibition of hockey."
The Hockey News contacted the PWHL seeking clarification regarding how the Rivalry Series is defined within the PWHL / PWHLPA collective bargaining related to injuries sustained during the series. Those requests for comment and clarification were not returned.