When Doug Messier founded the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) in 1967 along with the help of his Portland Buckaroos teammates, he didn’t anticipate at the time the PHPA growing into the second largest Players’ Association in terms of Membership in professional sports, and celebrating a successful 50^th Anniversary campaign in 2017.  What started as a benevolence society of players attempting to secure health insurance benefits, a pension plan, and other small monetary and non-monetary improvements now services over 1,600 professional hockey players across the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL and has become an integral stakeholder in the professional hockey landscape.

Today, Doug’s Grandson, Luke Esposito, is helping carry on the family legacy as a member of the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors and contributing to the PHPA in his own right.

Although a member of the famous Messier family and nephew to Hockey Hall of Famer and legendary six-time Stanley Cup Champion Mark Messier, Esposito grew up in a non-traditional hockey market and didn’t play ice hockey right away.  

“I grew up in South Carolina and played roller hockey until I was 10 years old,” explained Esposito.  “It wasn’t until our family moved to Connecticut when I began playing ice hockey.”

Excelling in both academics and hockey, he attended Harvard University, playing four seasons with the Crimson, while pursuing a degree in sociology.  He captured two ECAC Championships in 2015 and 2017 and was named to the 2017 ECAC All-Tournament Team, while enjoying every moment of the experience.

“I loved my time at Harvard.  My parents always preached education while growing up, and the school has a strong program and obviously a lot of history.  They offered a great mix of academics and athletics.  And on top of that I loved the city.  Harvard has an amazing campus.  Harvard Square has its own city feel.” 

Following his senior year where he recorded 36 points in 36 games and finished + 31, Esposito signed his first professional contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.  Although he wasn’t drafted to the NHL, the Griffins saw something special in the gritty forward.

“There was a player with Grand Rapids, Kyle Criscuolo, who was one year older than me.  He also went to Harvard and had won the Calder Cup with Grand Rapids in 2017.  We’re a similar type of player, and the team thought I could fill that role once he moved on and signed with the Buffalo Sabres.” 

After training hard throughout the summer, he was invited to the Detroit Red Wings Training Camp and played an NHL pre-season game against the Chicago Blackhawks.  Although he didn’t crack the Wings roster, the team assigned Esposito to Grand Rapids.  After a slow start to the season, he was then assigned to Toledo in the ECHL to hone aspects of his game.  He would be recalled to Grand Rapids multiple times that Fall, and after being called up in February, 2018, he remained in Grand Rapids for the rest of the season.

“When I came back to the team in February, I played on a line with Matt Ford and I really paid attention and caught on to the things he did on and off the ice.  He’s the type of player who brings it every day throughout the entire season and has a tremendous work ethic.  He was supportive, helped me stay positive, was our PHPA Player Representative, and even now I try to continue to do the things he did.”

While Matt Ford served as a role model for Esposito, he also had the luxury of leaning on family who have been engrained in hockey for more than half a century. 

“My Grandfather had an incredible influence on my hockey career.  I know he helped with Mark’s career immensely.  When our family moved from South Carolina to Connecticut, we did the 17-hour drive together.  Even before then when I was playing roller hockey, he would have my team over to his house for get togethers.  He coached me when I played midget hockey from the age of 15 to 18.  I learned so much from him and am grateful to have spent so much time together.  He’s a mix of old school combined with the ability to adapt to what the game requires now.  We still talk almost every day.”

When Doug retired from his career as a professional hockey player in 1969, he handed his PHPA duties and responsibilities to Portland, Oregon attorney, Curt Leichner, who he had hired two years earlier to legally form the PHPA in 1967.  Leichner was elected to serve as PHPA Executive Director, guiding the PHPA through representation of players in the Western Hockey League, American Hockey League, Central Hockey League, and International Hockey League before retiring in 1993.  

After Leichner passed away in 2005, his successor, Larry Landon, created the PHPA Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award in 2007 in celebration of the PHPA’s 40^th Anniversary.  The award has become the highest honour bestowed by the PHPA.  Doug Messier was the unanimous choice, selected by the PHPA Executive Committee, as the Award’s inaugural recipient.

“Our whole family was at the PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives in 2008 to see my Grandfather accept the award.  I was 14 years old at the time and was there with about 20 other members of our family to support him.  Looking back, it feels so unique to be part of what he helped form.”

52 years after being formed, Esposito is proud to see how far the PHPA has come and the programs it now provides to current and former players.   

“It’s hard to imagine going about starting a players association, especially in the 1960’s.  Because of my Grandfather’s connection, I’ve always taken a keen interest in the PHPA and have looked into the programs they offer.  They have a great staff who always know the best way to help.  They seem to keep growing and getting better every year.”

Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Esposito signed with the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.  Although he is not the team’s PHPA Player Representative, he still finds ways to help promote the PHPA to his fellow players and teammates.    

“Keegan Lowe does a great job as our Player Rep here in Bakersfield.  I volunteered to serve as our Alternate Player Rep and will do whatever I can to help him out.  I know the younger guys sometimes overlook what the PHPA can offer, but as players get older, you realize the benefits and begin to pay more attention to how things work such as the insurance aspect.  I find I’m learning something more about them each day and am proud to be part of the union that my Grandfather helped form.”

Now in his third year playing professional hockey, Esposito is growing into his role and thoroughly enjoying his time with the Condors who are vying for a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

“The opportunity that’s been afforded to me here, the relationship I have with our coaches has been great, and they’ve found trust in me.  We have an awesome group of guys who love to come to the rink each day, and I do my best to play my role to help this team win.”

Away from the rink, Esposito has embraced playing on the West Coast and taking in the many aspects California has to offer. 

“I love it out here.  It’s a long way from home, but you find a way to make it feel like home.  California is awesome for golfing, hiking, and just about anything.  I’m a big golfer, I love playing, and our group gets out when we can.  I enjoy taking time with my girlfriend to embrace the adventure.  We’ve gone to LA, driven the coast, and love finding cool places to hang out.”

During the summer months, Esposito helps run the Messier International Hockey School (@MessierIHS), a week long camp that combines cutting edge training techniques with various fundamentals of the game.  “My Grandfather originally founded it in the 1960’s when he was living in Alberta, Canada, and he’s still busy running it.  I’ve been pretty hands on with the instruction over the past two summers, while Mark is on the ice every day.  It’s a special program and provides students with an unreal hockey experience.”

As Esposito continues to carry on his family’s legacy off the ice, he hopes to add to his family’s impressive list of accomplishments on the ice while carving out his own journey in his pursuit of the NHL.