ECHL players strike forces postponement of 13 games

The ECHL, North America’s premier minor professional hockey league operating two tiers below the NHL, postponed 13 games on Friday after players initiated a strike amid stalled collective bargaining negotiations.

The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), representing the league’s players, announced the job action following months of talks that began in January. Players voted last week to authorize the negotiating committee to call a strike.

Key disputes include travel policies for back-to-back games, a holiday break, guaranteed contracts, offseason health benefits, and overall compensation. The union also accused the league of bypassing it by communicating directly with players.

“Our members are simply seeking reasonable improvements that allow them to work safely and earn a sustainable living while continuing to perform at a high level,” executive director Brian Ramsay said, via ESPN.

“Despite the union’s repeated efforts to meet and engage in bargaining, the league has continued to communicate directly with players in a manner that bypasses the union’s role as the exclusive bargaining representative.”

The league countered that it presented a “last, best, and final offer” including a 20 percent salary increase in the first year, higher per diems, more off days, expanded equipment provisions, and a 19.8 percent salary cap rise.

“Unfortunately, union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on our last, best, and final offer,” the ECHL said in a statement. “We did everything possible to avoid this outcome and hope that the union leadership will drop its unworkable scheduling demands, let the players vote on our offer and make it possible for players to return to work.”

The league noted it had heard from some players that they would not report for scheduled games and warned that future offers may be reduced due to revenue losses from missed contests.

The work stoppage affects the 30-team league, with no immediate resolution in sight.