[ad_1]
-
Emily KaplanESPN
The NWHL expects to have teams in Montreal and Toronto next season, Commissioner Dani Rylan told ESPN on Tuesday.
The news comes on the heels of NWHL competitor CWHL, who went to bed Sunday morning, a news that caused a shock wave in the hockey community.
According to Rylan, the NWHL should have seven teams next season – including existing franchises in Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, Connecticut and Minnesota – although "that's where we're comfortable today. That does not mean we will not be looking for other business opportunities in other markets in the United States and Canada. "
"Obviously, the announcement of the termination of LCHW's operations for the coming season was a shock to us, but we also needed an immediate reaction to do everything in our power to give these players the opportunity to play next year, "Rylan said.
In addition, Rylan met on Monday with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The NHL has agreed to increase its financial contribution to NWHL in a "significant" way, making it one of the major financial sponsors of the NWHL.
Rylan also says she's expecting players' salaries to increase for next season. The NWHL had a salary cap of $ 100,000 last season, the least paid player earning $ 2,500 for the season.
Rylan said the league was waiting to have conversations with all current stakeholders and partners in Toronto and Montreal – including the former clubs of the LCHW, the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Furies – before finalizing their plans.
Last season, the NWHL operated four of its five franchises, the Buffalo Beauts being privately owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, also owner of the NHL Buffalo Sabers and NFL Buffalo Bills.
Rylan has heard "not only from NHL owners, but also from other major players in major league sports," about the potential private ownership of one of the NWHL franchises.
For the moment, Rylan has nothing to report "but that does not mean that we will not have news to report this off season".
Previously, Dunkin & # 39; Donuts had been the main partner of the NWHL. Rylan is currently in renewed discussions with the company.
The NWHL debuted four years ago. The CWHL was founded in 2007. In the past, Rylan said that one of the biggest problems she had with sponsors was the fact that there were two leagues and they "did not know where they were. would not spend or which league to choose. " Rylan now says that there is a league, "a lot of this uncertainty is relieved".
Rylan said, "We have two different business models, we are profit-driven, we have the ability to sell our assets, whether at the league level or at the team level, and I think that Is basically the biggest difference. "
Rylan said the league has considered moving to the Connecticut franchise, which finished last in the league both in terms of ranking and attendance.
[ad_2]
Source link