Rethinking International Play In The Age Of The PWHL

With the PWHL season on pause for an international break where the vast majority of the league's national team players from Canada, USA, Czechia, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland are not playing, is it time to rethink international play in the age of the PWHL?

With the puck dropping on an international break in the PWHL schedule, the purpose of such breaks for the league are coming into question. The PWHL's collective agreement stipulates that games will not be played during official international breaks, but it appears that this season, the only players who will again get to play during those breaks are members of USA and Canada's Rivalry Series rosters. 

International play has been the cornerstone of women's hockey for decades, and abandoning it would be unwise for the global growth of the game. But with nine players from Czechia, four from Sweden, three from Finland, and one from Switzerland all staying in North America rather than joining their national teams for the Women's Euro Hockey Tour, the question has been asked, 'why stop the league for an international break when players aren't playing internationally?'.

Yes, Sandra Abstreiter (Germany) and Emma Soderberg (Sweden) are going, but goaltending is a unique position in the PWHL with three goaltenders per team, and neither Abstreiter or Soderberg are starters. Taylor Baker (Hungary) and Chloe Aurard (France) are also travelling to tournaments, but neither have been used much with New York. Baker was a healthy scratch and averaged 2:24 of ice in her two games, while Aurard is averaging just 5:18 per game through three contests. 

It hardly justifies shutting down an entire league for a week less than ten days into the regular season. Perhaps however, the real answer is the league's focus was on continuing to support North American players who were in charge of all player-based decisions in the formation of the league, and remain as the only player representatives and members of the PWHLPA's committee and representatives. In other words, the European voice may not be getting through. The Rivalry Series was shortened this year, but it will still run, and no players are needing to make the choice to stay away from their national programs. 

There are other factors involved in this. For one, players on Canada and USA's national team all receive significant pay for representing their national team, and in terms of the Rivalry Series, a revenue share. In Europe, national team players are vastly under-compensated. In some cases, like in Germany, the German Armed Forces’ Sports Promotion Program is how high level athletes earn a living. They sign up to become professional hockey playing soldiers. It's the same program Laura Kluge found herself obligated to this year restricting her ability to join the PWHL.

What are the options?

One alternative would be to evolve the Rivalry Series to include rotating international teams. Czechia, Finland, and Sweden would be able to field versions of their national teams in North America without much effort.

For example, Czechia has nine players currently competing in the PWHL, which will grow to at least 11 next season with Natalie Mlynkova and Kristyna Kaltounkova on board. There are an additional four past/present members of their national team in the NCAA, which will grow by four next season as Tereza Plosova, Anezka Cabelova, Adela Sapovalivova, and Aneta Senkova join the NCAA. That brings the grand total to 19 high level Czech players in North America. Looking at Sweden, in addition to Lina Ljungblom, Maja Nylen Persson, Anna Kjellbin, Jessica Adolfsson and Emma Soderberg at the PWHL level, the nation has 18 NCAA players, including stars like Josefin Bouveng, Mira Jungaker, Thea Johansson, Ida Karlsson, and Lisa Jonsson in the NCAA with more on the way next season. Finland boasts similar numbers with Noora Tulus, Ronja Savolainen, and Susanna Tapani in the PWHL, and 12 current NCAA players including players like Nelli Laitinen and Sanni Ahola who have been national team stars, and more on the way like Ohio State commit Sanni Vanhanen.

The level of available competition in North America will certainly climb next year as the PWHL Draft brings players like Viivi Vainikka, Jenniina Nylund, and potentially Michelle Karvinen of Sweden to the league, as well as Swedes like Sara Hjalmarsson, and Czech players like Michaela Pejzlova. None are guaranteed to declare (although Vainiikka, Nylund, and Hjalmarsson are safe bets), but the point stands that there will soon be more international talent in North America, than in Europe. 

Alternatively, the league could start their season sooner, to avoid such a quick disruption, and plan a single longer break for European nations in December, followed by the longer break for Worlds in the spring. This would require more collaboration between the IIHF and PWHL, but with the current state of international players feeling as though they cannot represent their nation and meet PWHL requirements, more collaboration is already needed.

Are there more outside the box options?

Certainly there are other options. One opportunity may be aligning the PWHL's preseason with an international break that would allow a nation to bring their national team to North America to play exhibition games against PWHL teams, or for PWHL teams to travel to Europe to face national teams. It would certainly help grow the visibility of the calibre of play in the PWHL, and provide general managers with invaluable scouting opportunities. The PWHL has stated their interest in hosting games in Europe. Participating in some form of preseason event may be an option that does not disrupt the season, increases preseason evaluation opportunities, allows for scouting, and grows the international game.

The NHL often schedules exhibition games against European clubs, and while the PWHL might be wise to avoid most of the NHL's plans, this one would fit the PWHL's goals, and would support the legacy of international play the league has been propped upon.