SHREWSBURY, N.J. (KCRG) – The ECHL regular season is back on.
The ECHL and the Pro Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, officially ending a players’ strike.
The parties reached a tentative deal on Saturday. Players returned to their teams in good faith, though the deal wasn’t officially ratified by the PHPA’s ECHL membership and the ECHL Board of Governors until Tuesday.
The agreement will run through the 2029-30 season.
The Iowa Heartlanders postponed three games, a home game against Bloomington on December 26th, and road games against Bloomington on December 27th and 28th.
The Heartlanders’ next game is scheduled for Wednesday, December 31st at Kansas City.
The ECHL released a statement from Commissioner Ryan Crelin.
“This new agreement ratified by both the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association significantly increases player compensation, improves health and safety and delivers on new initiatives that are responsive to our players’ needs, while supporting our league’s continued growth and ability to put an entertaining and accessible product on the ice for our fans and the communities we serve,” said ECHL Commissioner, Ryan Crelin. “I am so appreciative of the dedication and effort of our CBA committee who worked tirelessly to reach this agreement on behalf of the entire ECHL community.”
PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay also released a statement
“This agreement reflects the unity, resolve, professionalism and discipline of our members throughout this process,” said PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay. “Meaningful progress was made in several key areas identified as priorities by our members, and this outcome would not have been possible without their engagement and support. On behalf of the PHPA, I want to thank our Bargaining Committee, our ECHL membership, and the PHPA staff for their work in reaching this agreement, as well as our brothers and sisters from the AFL-CIO, NHLPA, PWHLPA, NFLPA, and CFLPA, and labor organizations from across North America for their unwavering support.”
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