SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – The Savannah Ghost Pirates’ Star Wars-themed game against the South Carolina Stingrays was postponed as the ECHL remains in the midst of a union strike.
The postponement stems from an ongoing dispute between the Professional Hockey Players’ Association and the league. A conversation between the two groups took place Thursday, but the league’s latest offer was not accepted, and games across the league are being postponed until a decision is made.
All 13 games in the ECHL that were scheduled for Friday night were postponed. The strike could impact the rest of the season for the league.
League offer details
The ECHL sent out a statement Thursday detailing that the Professional Hockey Players’ Association did not allow their athletes to vote on the most recent offer. The proposal included a 20% boost to player salaries, a boost to their per diems, more guaranteed off days, and bringing in better equipment for players.
Unfortunately, union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on our last, best, and final offer – an offer that would dramatically raise player salaries by 20 percent in the first year, boost the per-diem rate, guarantee more off days, and expand the top-of-the-line equipment available to players.
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 said union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on the offer and called on union leadership to drop its scheduling demands and let players vote.
Player reactions mixed
The player base is not unanimously in favor of the strike. The Stingrays had a morning skate Thursday in preparation for their game, and one player took to Facebook, posting to fans that he believes the league has treated him and his teammates well.
The player said many players still want to play and that he signed an agreement to play this season, but not to go on strike.
Stingrays head coach David Warsofsky said the team is uneasy but he is doing his best to help both sides of the dispute.
“You know obviously you wanna be there with the owners also so kind of playing both sides and helping players out trying to get through this,” Warsofsky said. “I went through this as a player a long time ago so I kind of understand what it’s like but just being a support system for them as much as we can.”
The players’ association has yet to make a statement on the latest offer from the league.
All tickets for Friday’s hockey game will be transferred to the rescheduled game, which is to be determined. Ticketing questions should be emailed to support@ghostpirateshockey.com or call (912) 494-2868.
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