 The president's budget proposal eliminates public media funding. Learn how you can help at lptv.org slash action. A number of current, former, and future BSU women's hockey players had joined the U.S. women's national team's boycott of the upcoming world championships this weekend. When members of the women's national team began boycotting the world championships, that's when USA Hockey began searching for replacement players such as BSU's Alexis Joyce, Emily Berglund, and freshman recruits Mack Langey and Claire to George. On the one hand, I told them, I said it's thrilling that USA Hockey thought enough of you to reach out and ask for your information, which is what they did, but on the other hand, I knew it was just a to get caught up in the middle of something that was so much bigger than themselves. I just knew it was a tough situation because all of them aspire to be a part of that program. That's a goal of every player at our level is to represent their country if they can. And so here they're getting an opportunity, but the opportunity is not the one that they certainly wanted to be in. The boycott came to light because of stall negotiations with USA Hockey over fair compensation, support and marketing, especially compared to the U.S. men's national team. Something former beaver Stephanie Anderson, a member of Team USA's player pool, has been close to since the beginning. It was a long process, but I think everything went the way that we wanted to and it was planned out perfectly for when we wanted to make the decisions. With the click of one button, Joyce, Bergland and Lange sent out this tweet, all saying they would not participate in this year's World Championships. This was not a time to be selfish and we had to think about that and say, you know what, this isn't about me. If I'm a good enough player and if I make myself a good enough player, I'll get my opportunity when I'm not a second up or second choice. Saying no, I think two is a big thing. Like you're standing with all the other girls at Women's Hockey. Like you're representing something so much bigger than saying yes, that was for your own personal decision. But that doesn't mean the decision to say no came easy. It's been a dream since I was little to throw a USA jersey on and be able to represent my country and it's very hard to be able to say no to them because you don't know if saying no is taking you off their radar or putting you on a bad side for them because you went against them and stood up for the other side. According to a report from the US CHO, they were among 37 players refusing to play for USA Hockey. Their voices were heard loud and clear and last night a new deal was agreed upon. All along they wanted to go to world so bad but they just they knew that this was so much more important than taking the right step in the right direction and they got they got it done and we stuck together and that's what the most important thing is. Which they all say is a giant step in the right direction for Women's Hockey. It's good to see that Women's Hockey is finally getting a little more recognition. We did this for the generations below us. I know we're probably not going to benefit from it as much as the generations below us coming up through the USA program. So we did that for all of them. It's obviously good for the future because obviously stuff needed to change. So I guess it's good to see that like things are making progress in the women's hockey world. We put ourselves on the map and deserve some recognition and they've got what they've deserved and I'm very happy for them. And even though they won't be competing in this year's world championships this opportunity has given them more motivation for the next time around. It was a good feeling to know that we're on the radar and we were worthy enough to even get the email. But it definitely drives us a little more in this offseason to say like you got to really push yourself because if you want to reach your dreams of playing for the national team like this is where you got to do it and yeah they've been taking looks at you but obviously you haven't done enough yet to say I demand a spot on this team so going into next season I think both of us have an opportunity to demand a spot. And with the New Deal Team USA will proceed in the women's world championships this weekend. Their first game of the tournament will be Friday against Canada. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland news please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.