NWHL releases salary details for 2017-18 season

The Ice Garden has learned that NWHL players will make between $5,000 and $7,000 for the 2017-18 season. That amount includes two preseason games for each team, two practices each week, the 16 game regular season schedule and “up to two” playoff games.

“We are proud to be able to continue to compensate players for the third consecutive season since the NWHL started in 2015,” said NWHL Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore.

This year the league’s four rosters will no longer carry “practice players” like they did in seasons one and two. Teams now have a maximum of 25 roster spots available and each player will be compensated according to their salary tiers (of which there are three).

From the NWHL:

This season, players can make from $5,000 up to $7,000. There are three tiers of compensation. The players were slotted into their team’s roster and salary tiers as they agreed to their contract offers during the offseason.

Players in the CWHL will be compensated for the first time this year and will be making between $2,000 and $10,000.

It’s a far cry from the $10,000-$26,000 range that NWHL players made in season one and last season before the league announced salary cuts for its players. With that being said, a drop in pay was expected this season after last year's salaries were slashed.

Because the CWHL players are paid in Canadian dollars (confirmed by the league), then some players in the NWHL and CWHL could end up making very similar salaries this season. For some context, $10,000 Canadian presently converts to $7,921 USD.

"The NWHLPA will continue to strive for the betterment of the players in our league, and across the sport of women's hockey,” shared NWHLPA director and skater for the Connecticut Whale Anya Battaglino. “As we continue to pioneer and grow, we are thankful to be paid, professional athletes. We anticipate tremendous success in season three both on the ice and through increased corporate partnership. We know the potential is boundless for the NWHL and the sport of women's hockey, and we look forward to seeing that through."

The NWHL regular season begins on Saturday, October 28th with a historic game at the Prudential Center between the Metropolitan Riveters and the visiting Boston Pride.