Laura Stacey was surprised by the recent disclosure of PWHL player salaries. As the president of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players’ Association, she sees the potential for this transparency to benefit players negotiating future contracts. Stacey, who plays for Montréal Victoire, expressed her views on the matter at Verdun Auditorium in Quebec.
While the union had originally decided to share salary information only with players and agents, The Hockey News published salaries from the 2024-25 season. Stacey acknowledged the value of players being aware of each other’s salaries to facilitate fair negotiations and improve contracts.
The release of salary details, including contracts for the 2024-25 season and agreements with the Vancouver and Seattle expansion franchises, sparked discussions on social media and on the NHL podcast 32 Thoughts. In contrast to the NHL, where salary disclosure was implemented in 1990, the PWHL had previously disclosed only minimum and average salaries.
Stacey explained that the decision to keep full salary figures internal was influenced by the league’s early stages of development. However, with the league’s growth and increasing fan interest, there may be a need for a new vote on salary transparency.
Izzy Daniel, the player representative for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, described the salary disclosure as disappointing but also highlighted the potential to address underpaid players in the league. Catherine Dubois, a Victoire forward, emphasized the importance of transparency to dispel misconceptions about player earnings.
Stacey recognized the progress made in allowing players to earn a living from playing women’s hockey but emphasized the need for continued growth and improvement. As the league attracts larger audiences and gains momentum, players aim to raise the standards and visibility of women’s hockey to further advance the sport.