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US and Canada jerseys for upcoming women's world championships are unclear amid an IIHF dispute

Players from the U.S. and Canada don't know what jerseys they will be wearing at the women's world hockey championship that begins next week in Denmark

US Canada Worlds Jersey Dispute Hockey
FILE - United States forward Taylor Heise (27) skates with the puck during the second period in the final against Canada at the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships in Utica, N.Y., April 14, 2024.

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) — Players from the U.S. and Canada don’t know what jerseys they will be wearing at the women’s world hockey championship that begins next week in Denmark.

There is an ongoing dispute between the countries’ governing bodies and the International Ice Hockey Federation over the control of commercial rights for national team jerseys.

The IIHF announced an agreement with True Hockey a year ago stating the company would be the “exclusive supplier of team uniforms and apparel for all IIHF member national associations for all international events” beginning in the 2026-27 season. It remains unclear if the agreement was completed.

USA Hockey has a jersey deal in place with CCM and Hockey Canada with Bauer. The organizations have pushed back in a court in Switzerland, where the IIHF is based.

IIHF bylaws state it has final approval on jersey designs, but member national associations (MNA) “retain all rights related to their national team logo, emblem and uniform design.” The document goes on to say, “the IIHF shall not use MNA team jerseys for commercial purposes unless approval is provided by the respective MNA.”

The sport’s world governing body called an extraordinary congress in May with an eye toward changing its statutes to allow for control of national team jersey commercial rights. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey each filed for injunctions with the Swiss court, The Athletic reported.

Temporary injunctions were granted before the congress, but were revoked by the court last month. Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have appealed.

The standoff means both countries might be forced to don generic jerseys at the worlds because True Hockey can’t use either federation’s designs or markings.

Hockey Canada said in a statement that “wearing our Maple Leaf is incredibly important to our national team athletes.”

“We are hopeful that we will reach a positive resolution with the IIHF’s new administration that will allow the national women’s team to do so when they represent Canada.”

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