The 2015 Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) Annual Meeting of Player Representatives will be hosted at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek & Waldorf Astoria this June 15 – 19th, thanks in part to Allan Bester, former PHPA Player Representative and starting goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bester is now Sales Manager at the hotel, which last year, earned the Connie Award; Hilton Worldwide’s highest achievement for an individual property.  According to Bester, the players will be staying at the best Hilton in North America.  “It’s a unique property with the Waldorf Astoria connecting to the hotel.  We have a world-class golf course as well as a new lobby and lounge, a 3-acre pool, lazy river, a waterslide, and a casual poolside restaurant.  And with Disney as our neighbor, there is just so much to do from an individual’s perspective or for those players bringing their family.”

After a stellar 15-year professional career split between the NHL, American Hockey League (AHL), and the former International Hockey League (IHL), Bester is well aware of the what the PHPA means to professional hockey players, and is doing his part to ensure players take the most away from their experience at the PHPA Annual Meeting.

Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Bester was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.  With the Leafs struggling midway through the 1983-84 season, Bester was recalled to join the NHL club out of Junior, where his play exceeded expectations.  “I believe I played better than anyone anticipated, and started just about every game for the Leafs for the rest of the season.”

Over the next couple of seasons, Bester would transition between the NHL and AHL, eventually earning his spot as full-time starting goaltender for the Leafs.

“To go from being a starting goaltender in the NHL during my rookie year to being assigned to the AHL was initially a tough pill to swallow.  However, looking back, over time it helped me regain my confidence.  I worked hard with John Brophy who was coaching the Leafs’ AHL affiliate in St. Catharines, and was soon back in the NHL as the number one goalie for the Leafs.”

For the next three seasons, Bester ranked among the top NHL goaltenders in save percentage, routinely facing 40 shots a game.  Don Cherry even infamously noted at the time that ‘Bester sees more rubber than a dead skunk on the Trans-Canada highway’.  His play also earned him on a spot on Canada’s World Championship team.

However, during the 1990-91 season and after suffering through some injuries, Bester was traded to the rival Detroit Red Wings, and assigned to their AHL affiliate in Adirondack.  Although he was not pleased with his assignment at the time, it was with Adirondack where Bester would restore his game, and earn some hardware along the way.

“I was recovering from a knee injury after being traded to Detroit and once I was sent to Adirondack, admittedly my confidence was low.  To his credit, our coach, Barry Melrose, helped me regain my confidence.  He constantly told me that I was the best goaltender in the League.  He treated me with unbelievable respect and ultimately, the team was rewarded with my strong play in the playoffs.  We went on to win the Calder Cup that year, and that win is a credit to Barry Melrose.  He knew how to motivate each guy, knew exactly what buttons to press, and really got the guys to play their best hockey.”

Not only did Bester lead the Adirondack Red Wings to the Calder Cup, he was awarded the Jack Butterfield Trophy as Most Valuable Player during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Watch Allan Bester receive the Jack Butterfield Trophy

“That was a highlight moment of my career.  I thought that winning the Calder Cup and being named playoff MVP would be a strong stepping stone to get back to the NHL.  That didn’t end up happening.  I felt a lot more comfortable in goal after that and played another year in Adirondack but wasn’t getting a shot in Detroit.  So I signed with San Diego in the IHL with the Mighty Ducks organization and continued my development there.” 

After two years in San Diego, Bester signed with the Orlando Solar Bears ahead of the 1995-96 season where he would spend the final 3 years of his career, save for a ten-game stint back in the NHL with the Dallas Stars.  As a veteran presence with the Solar Bears, Bester embraced his leadership role, and enjoyed helping teammates both on and off the ice.

“When I was with Orlando, I became the team’s PHPA Player Representative.  I was one of the older players on the team and I genuinely liked helping out the younger guys.  They would often come to me with questions about off-ice issues so I wanted to help players understand what their union does for them.  I made it a point to teach them what the PHPA had fought for over the years, and that players shouldn’t take it for granted.  I believe there is no more important union in sports than the PHPA.  It’s perhaps the most necessary of all the pro sport unions to ensure the smaller things are taken care of.  Without them, players would not have the ability to pursue a grievance.  I always stressed the importance of having a strong union.”

Nearing the end of his on-ice career, Bester was informed of a new sports position opening up within the Orlando Holiday Inn’s regional sales office.  Armed with experience in Collective Bargaining negotiations through his involvement with the PHPA, along with his demonstrated leadership abilities, Bester applied for the position and was granted an interview with the Director of Sales. 

“I was very persistent in following up to even get an interview with the Director of Sales.  But once we met, he told me that he can’t teach personality and drive, but he can teach sales.  And with my personality and experience, he thought I would be a natural fit.  So I was hired, and 17 years later, I’m still loving working in the hotel industry.”

“I am looking forward to hosting the PHPA for what I hope will be the first of many years to come.  This is an amazing hotel with the highest levels of service, and I promise the players will be thrilled the PHPA selected this venue.”