NHLPA names Marty Walsh executive director

As expected, the NHLPA officially announced its next executive director will be Marty Walsh, ending a nine-month search to replace the outgoing Donald Fehr. Walsh was unanimously appointed by the executive board after being recommended by the player-led search committee.

Kyle Okposo, a member of that committee, released the following:

"We are excited to name Marty Walsh as the next Executive Director of the NHLPA. Marty is a proven leader with a strong union background. His energy and ability to connect with players were immediately evident to the search committee. These were the very qualities we were focused on throughout our search for the next Executive Director. We look forward to the NHLPA’s future under Marty’s leadership."

The committee included Okposo, Ian Cole, Mattias Ekholm, Justin Faulk, Sam Gagner, Zach Hyman, Nate Schmidt, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jacob Trouba and James van Riemsdyk.

Walsh, 55, is not new to the public eye. He recently served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor, was the mayor of Boston for seven years, spent 16 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and was previously the president of the Laborers Local 223 in Boston.

He will officially take over from Fehr in mid-March, at which time there will be an introductory press conference.