(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Jake Lloyd for a new full-time position as Coordinator of Communications and Digital Marketing while Steven Carney and Stan Drobnich have been hired as Consultants and will serve as Co-Coordinators of the Career Enhancement Program (CEP).

Lloyd recently graduated from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario where he received his Bachelor of Sport Management degree while playing three seasons of Junior hockey in the GOJHL with the Thorold Blackhawks and St. Catharines Falcons. 

He joins the PHPA after completing a 4-month Internship which included work on the PHPA Player Voted Awards program, Annual Meeting of Player Representatives, and the recent PHPA Golf Classic which concluded the Association’s 50^th Anniversary celebrations.

In his new role, Lloyd will be responsible for managing various PHPA digital and social media platforms, the continued development of the PHPA Grow with the Pros! Mentor Program and Redline program, while assisting with key sponsorship and marketing initiatives.

Steven Carney comes to the PHPA with an extensive background in career transition counseling including experience as a former school counselor, apprenticeship coordinator, and college admissions representative.  He has served as an educational consultant for various junior hockey teams, has coached hockey in both the United States and Canada, and has a unique understanding of the challenges athletes encounter as they embark upon a post hockey career. 

Stan Drobnich has been involved with the PHPA on a consulting basis as a Career Test Administrator since the inception of the CEP in 1997.  He previously worked as Executive Director for the Employment Help Centre in Beamsville, Ontario which offers individuals a full range of employment services and support.

Carney and Drobnich will bolster the well-established Career Enhancement Program by expanding educational opportunities for current and former PHPA Members, developing employment prospects, and assisting players with their transition to a post hockey career. They are currently developing a new program that will assist PHPA Members in pursuing a career in the building trades. 

Since its inception in 1997, the Career Enhancement Program has worked directly with nearly 2,000 PHPA Members, boasting the largest enrolment of any program of its kind for professional athletes. 

“Jake, Steve, and Stan are three welcome additions to the PHPA as we aim to continuously develop programs that benefit PHPA Members and their families,” said PHPA Executive Director, Larry Landon.  “They are quality individuals who each bring a unique skill set to the Association, and I look forward to working with each of them as we build upon the momentum generated from our 50^th Anniversary.”