#phpa

[puckpocketed]

an open letter from players in the ECHL

[neoncat669]

ECHL MEMBERSHIP SERVES STRIKE NOTICE

News Release under the cut:

The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) announced today that its ECHL membership has served a strike notice effective December 26, 2025, following a strike authorization mandate delivered on December 18, 2025. As a result of the league’s ongoing unfair labor practices, the PHPA’s ECHL membership has been forced to take this step to protect the integrity of the bargaining process. The league’s ongoing unfair labor practices have undermined and obstructed the lawful collective bargaining process. The league’s unlawful conduct dates back to late spring/early summer, when it made unilateral changes to mandatory subjects of bargaining and engaged in regressive negotiations. This prompted the PHPA to file an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to remedy the league’s unlawful conduct and restore the parties’ statutory obligation to bargain in good faith. PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay issued the following statement: “We have informed the ECHL that we are willing to continue discussions to resolve all outstanding matters. For several months, we have been engaged in bargaining with the league, and their unlawful and coercive conduct throughout this process has been incredibly disappointing. We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers. Our members have never been more united and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time. We sincerely hope the ECHL will engage in good-faith negotiations so a fair agreement can be reached and any disruption to the season can be avoided.”

[icedbatik]

I have no clear idea of what Sidney Crosby's involvement was. And I had to do some searching to find any additional information after originally seeing the story on (not hockey but) motorsports.net.

But ... there's this, from June 11, 2025, from the NHLPA and PHPA ...

The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced a new strategic alliance on Wednesday that will "reinforce and strengthen the close relationship enjoyed by the two associations."

A shared statement from both parties states that this first-time alliance will "provide for shared administrative and legal resources to ensure the best representation for all members, including in collective bargaining."

The PHPA and NHLPA will remain separate, fully autonomous entities with each maintaining their own governance and operational functions.

“We are very pleased and excited to announce that we have entered into a strategic alliance with the NHLPA that will support the tight unity between our organizations," said PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay in the release. "I would like to thank (NHLPA Executive Director) Marty Walsh and the NHLPA for their support and partnership as we work collectively to ensure the best possible representation for our members. We are stronger together."

“This agreement will better align our organizations to serve the needs of our players at all stages of their careers,” added Walsh. “We look forward to continuing to work with the PHPA to advocate for and improve the lives of the professional hockey players we serve.” 

Approximately 90 per cent of NHLPA members have spent time as members of the PHPA while playing in the AHL or ECHL.

And then there's this, from, yes, motorsports.net ...

Sidney Crosby hailed as the architect of a groundbreaking alliance that reshapes hockey’s power dynamics

A New Era in Hockey: Crosby’s Visionary Influence

In a move that promises to redefine the landscape of professional hockey, a groundbreaking alliance has been forged between the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA). This strategic partnership aims to solidify and enhance the existing bond between these two influential bodies, marking a significant shift in the sport’s power dynamics.

Sidney Crosby: The Catalyst Behind the Change

At the heart of this transformative alliance is Sidney Crosby, a player whose influence extends far beyond the ice. Known for his leadership and strategic acumen, Crosby has been instrumental in advocating for stronger unity among players. His vision for a more cohesive and empowered player community has been a driving force behind this collaboration. By fostering a closer relationship between the NHLPA and PHPA, Crosby is helping to ensure that players at all levels have a stronger voice and greater representation.

Strengthening Player Representation

This alliance comes at a crucial time when player representation and welfare are increasingly in the spotlight. The partnership is designed to bolster the support systems available to players, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed more effectively. By uniting the efforts of both associations, the initiative aims to create a more robust framework for player advocacy, enhancing their ability to influence decisions that impact their careers and the sport as a whole.

A Legacy of Leadership

Crosby’s involvement in this initiative is a testament to his enduring legacy as a leader in the hockey world. His commitment to the betterment of the sport and its players is evident in his proactive approach to fostering collaboration and unity. As the sport continues to evolve, Crosby’s role in shaping its future remains pivotal, reflecting his dedication to leaving a lasting impact on hockey.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Hockey

The implications of this alliance extend beyond immediate player benefits. By reinforcing the relationship between the NHLPA and PHPA, the partnership sets a precedent for future collaborations within the sport. It highlights the importance of unity and collective action in addressing the challenges faced by players today. As this new chapter unfolds, the hockey community can anticipate a more unified front, poised to navigate the complexities of the modern sports landscape with resilience and solidarity.

In conclusion, Sidney Crosby’s role in orchestrating this alliance underscores his visionary leadership and commitment to the sport. This strategic partnership not only strengthens player representation but also paves the way for a more collaborative and empowered future for hockey. As the sport continues to grow and adapt, the influence of leaders like Crosby will undoubtedly shape its trajectory for years to come.

So, again, I have no idea what Sid's specific involvement was, but ... I think he's going to end up in the Hall of Fame, not just as a player but as a architect, a builder, someone who came into the sport and transformed it on just about every level possible. All through behind-the-scenes involvement that most people never see. One more layer/level of greatness for a man who already has so, so many of them.

[sharkjumpers]

you're a flashlight in a dark room

[wolfer-aid]

A CALAMITY IS COMING.

PHANTOM PAINS is a paranormal graphic novel based off of a nightmare I had when I was fifteen and a short story I never finished as a kid. Before judging the actions of a seventeen year-old dealing with phantom infestations in their home, mind, and body, ask yourself this: what the hell would you do?

In 1899, a stray forest fire took out the entire bottom half of Bywick, a small, forgettable town too far west of the railroad tracks to draw visitors. Hundreds of people died burning, and they took the life of the area with them. This tragedy spliced the town in two: the north side, where the laws of the universe proceed as normal, and the south side, where phantoms coast the city blocks.

By the time seventeen-year-old Jasminder moves in, it's over a century later, the south side of Bywick has been rebuilt, and stories of the haunted half of town are almost as common as the haunts themselves. Jas couldn't care less about ghost stories. They've got better things to worry about, like the collaborative English project, or finding a place that'll still develop film, and stuff like, 'hey, was that noise real, or?'––at least until a turn of events leads them to ->

PHANTOM ALLEY Nicknamed such by those that are capable of utilizing it, Phantom Alley is the threshold between the world of the living and the world of the dead. To the unseeing eye, it's just an alley located right in the middle of town. To those that are special––and what makes someone special is none of your goddamn business, not quite yet––it's a doorway. When a regular person crosses through Phantom Alley, they see nothing unusual. When someone less than regular walks through, the normal world falls away. All of the people fade from view, and the sky goes black. The air is always hollow and warm, like summer nights. Nearly every building is a phantom. Nearly every object contains a phantom.

Phantoms cannot cross through the Alley. They're locked in the south side of town.

HOW DO PHANTOMS EVEN WORK?

Anything can become a phantom––people can, of course, but so can animals, objects, and places.

Phantoms are merely impressions of what they were before they died. They don't retain memories or personality, though some retain unique knowledge.

PLACES: Say a library is closed down and demolished; this library, because it's so full of knowledge and history and experience, dies. Because it dies, it becomes a phantom. The building isn't haunted, it is the haunting. Many locations in the south side of Bywick are haunted by the places that came before them. This gives them odd properties when visited after crossing through Phantom Alley (these properties are NOT NOTICEABLE BY DEFAULT for those that aren't aware of the hauntings). For example, the bowling alley gives people three shadows, and the shopping center induces dizziness and chills. The entire south side of Bywick is extremely haunted because nearly every house was burnt to the ground.

ANIMALS: Not too complicated. When a living thing dies, it has a chance of becoming a phantom. The more haunted of an area something dies in, the bigger a chance it has at persisting after death. There's a dog park in Bywick that's occupied by tons of doggie ghosts. Not relevant to the plot at all. I just wanted you to know that.

HUMANS: Phantoms of humans are unique. They aren't able to hold their humanoid forms for long, and usually occupy an object with some kind of significance to them; could be a book, weapon, piece of jewelry, etc. They can also turn parts of themselves corporeal for very short amounts of time. They are the only types of phantoms capable of possession.

POSSESSION

Possession, contrary to popular belief, is a mutual agreement. Phantoms must have agreement from their hosts before taking over the body, and can be forced out of the body by pure will of the vessel. Possessions, overall, are not healthy for the phantom or their vessel, so they only occur when necessary and for short periods of time. When a person is possessed, they gain physical aspects unique to the phantom, such as a triple shadow or face/body markings. When possessing someone, phantoms are able to channel their spirit through their vessel to ward off harm from other phantoms. They can also talk through their vessel, which they can't do otherwise.

WRANGLERS

The wranglers are a group of people that are able to cross through Phantom Alley and see the haunted copy of the south side of town. Their jobs are best described as zookeepers; Bywick doesn't need ghost hunters. It needs people that can communicate with phantoms and keep them entertained, keep them happy, and offer companionship. When a hostile or otherwise dangerous phantom appears, the wranglers work together as a group to take care of it. Each wrangler has a patron phantom that they work with.

OKAY MAVERICK THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE STORY EVEN ABOUT?

The plot kicks off when Jasminder stumbles through Phantom Alley and into the haunted half of town. They encounter some phantoms, maybe freak out a bit before realizing none of them mean any harm, and meet a few of the wranglers. Ecstatic that they have the ability to see ghosts, Jasminder asks to join them. You know, as an after-school activity.

They meet a phantom named Crasher, a... very self-confident phantom with an eye for world domination that's convinced it's evil. Much to both Jas' and Crasher's dismay, Crasher has to be Jas' patron phantom.

During a routine phantom wrangling, Crasher possesses Jasminder to protect them. Everything goes flawlessly, and they're feeling pretty good about being a team, and then Crasher realizes it has no idea how to... un-possess Jas. This is no good–-by which I mean potentially life-threatening––for the both of them.

And then they learn that in order to see phantoms, you have to have caused a death.

Jas certainly doesn't recall killing anybody.

There are bugs crawling in the corner of Jasminder's vision. Something's growing beneath the pipes. There's a ghost hunter in town. Something's gotta break. Something's gotta bend.

A calamity is coming.

OTHER INFO

Wranglers

Jas + Crasher (wip)

Extra phantom info (wip)

Haunted locations (wip)

The Inspectre

[neoncat669]

An update from the Professional Hockey Players’ Association.

The PHPA would like to express its gratitude for the continued support shown by fans, the broader hockey community, our brothers and sisters in sport, active and retired players, and communities in and out of the labor movement across North America.

Full article under the cut [December 26th, 2025]:

PHPA ECHL Membership Commences Job Action Following League’s Refusal to Bargain in Good Faith

The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) today confirmed that its ECHL membership has commenced job action following the league’s ongoing unfair labor practices, including persistent threats, coercive conduct, and a refusal to bargain in good faith.

Despite nearly a year of bargaining negotiations and sustained efforts by the union to reach a fair and reasonable collective agreement, the parties remain without a deal.

Over the past several days, the PHPA offered to return to work immediately on four separate occasions while continuing negotiations toward a settlement. In each instance, the union asked that if an agreement could not be reached within a short, defined period, the remaining issues be resolved with the assistance of an experienced mediator or arbitrator. Each request was denied by the league.

On Christmas Day, the ECHL presented what it described as a final offer. This proposal failed to meaningfully address key health, safety, and economic issues and misrepresented the impact of the proposed financial changes. The union also is also aware that the league is currently directing teams to engage in unlawful activities, including evictions and the removal of medical benefits, for participating in protected union activity. 

The PHPA has just completed a player rep and leadership call, where members expressed their confidence in their bargaining committee and the process. All questions were answered, and up-to-date information was provided in real-time.

The PHPA has identified the following key issues that remain unresolved:

Travel Between Back-to-Back Games The PHPA is seeking reasonable limitations on travel between games played on consecutive days in order to address player health and safety. Holiday Break The PHPA has requested a league-wide break without travel on December 24, 25, and 26 each season to allow players to spend time with their families during the holidays.  Guaranteed Contracts The PHPA is requesting that teams and players be permitted, by mutual agreement, to guarantee contracts for a season to provide stability when players relocate and commit to a city. Such agreements would be optional for both parties and non-binding should a player move to another league.  Health Benefits The PHPA is seeking uninterrupted medical coverage during the off-season for qualified players who remain signed, restricted, or under contract, consistent with benefits provided to other full-time staff, rather than the current practice of terminating coverage between July and October. Group Rights The PHPA is seeking a standard group licensing framework consistent with other professional sports leagues, including reasonable limits on the use of players’ name, image, and likeness, wearable-technology medical data, and off-ice time commitments.  Player Compensation The PHPA is requesting a weekly salary cap of $19,500 for the 2025-26 season, with inflationary increases in subsequent years. This equates to an average weekly wage of $975 for players, who are compensated only during the hockey season. 

The ECHL has refused each of these requests. 

“We recognize how important ECHL hockey is to fans, families, and local communities. 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. We remain ready to continue discussions with the league to reach a fair agreement,” said PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay.

Ramsay continued, “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. We continue to receive thousands of messages of overwhelming support from our great fans, brothers and sisters in sport, active and retired players, and communities in and out of the labor movement across North America. They stand with us.”

[neoncat669]

A message from ECHL players to our fans

original posting date: December 22nd, 2025

[neoncat669]

Still pending formal approval, but this is what we know