At the 2017 Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) Annual Meeting of Player Representatives which served as the official launch to the Association’s 50^th Anniversary celebrations, five former players, each representing a designated decade, were brought back to address all Player Reps about what playing conditions were like during their era as well as highlight their involvement with the PHPA.  It was a means to honour the past as the Association turned 50, while helping educate current players about how far their Association has come.

In fact, the presentations made by Era Representatives Glenn Patrick (1967-77), Claude Noel (1977-87), Paul Jerrard (1987-97), Dane Jackson (1997-2007), and Peter Vandermeer (2007 – 17) were so well received, that PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon initiated the Executive Director’s Honouring the Past Award the following year, where a former player of his choosing would be invited to attend the PHPA Annual Meeting and speak to Player Reps about their experiences with the PHPA.

In 2018, Max Fortunus, a long-time PHPA Player Rep and member of the Executive Committee addressed all attendees as the inaugural recipient of the Award.  Last year, Archie Henderson, who spent a significant portion of his 11-year pro career as a Player Representative and member of the Executive Committee returned to share stories about playing conditions during the late 1970’s and early 80’s.

This year, Marty Flichel, who spent four seasons as a PHPA Player Representative and three as a member of the Executive Committee while playing with the Idaho Steelheads was personally selected by Landon to be recognized as the 2020 recipient of the Award.

“Marty was a true leader on the ice and off,” said Landon, who has been Executive Director of the PHPA since 1993.  “It was no coincidence that he was Captain of the Steelheads for so long while being a very well-respected member of the PHPA Executive Committee.  The contributions he made to the PHPA and the input he provided on key decisions cannot be understated.”

Flichel’s more significant contributions included his involvement in negotiations towards a successor PHPA – ECHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, as well as being involved in the process to renew Landon’s contract as Executive Director.  He also provided input and guidance throughout his tenure regarding PHPA financials, the purchase of a PHPA office building in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, representation of Central Hockey League players, among many others.

“I couldn’t believe when Larry called me to tell me that I was receiving this award and recognition.  I was speechless,” said Flichel.  “I’m very humbled that the contributions I made are being recognized, however, at the time when I was a Player Rep, you’re doing this for all the right reasons, and not for recognition.”

Flichel grew up in the Canadian prairies in the province of Saskatchewan, and played his junior career in the Western Hockey League, notching 107 points in 69 games with Kelowna during his fourth and final year. 

He was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 1994, and was assigned to the Stars primary affiliate in Michigan of the International Hockey League to start the 1996-97 season. After three seasons though, Flichel was interested in playing in Europe, and signed with the Nottingham Panthers, playing in the British League for two seasons before heading back to North America.

He played the next two seasons in the West Coast Hockey League with Tacoma and Idaho, followed by a season back in Kalamazoo in the United Hockey League, before signing with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL ahead of the 2004-05 season.  Flichel would remain with the Steelheads organization until his retirement in 2012, becoming the franchise leader in games played (497), goals (180), assists (295), and playoff points (60).  In January 2015, Flichel’s #16 jersey was retired by the Steelheads.

Flichel has remained a staple within the Boise, Idaho community, along with his wife and two daughters.  He still plays hockey in a local Senior Men’s league, and is now a Mortgage Advisor with Finance of America.  He can also be found providing colour commentary for Steelheads games where he maintains his close connection with the Club.

Flichel and his family are looking forward to returning to the next PHPA Annual Meeting, whenever that may be, and connecting with as many players as he can.  “I’m not really a talker or like getting in front of large groups of people, but I will talk about my experiences with the PHPA from when I was a player, and how those experiences helped me in my pursuit of a post hockey career.  Hopefully that resonates with the current group of Player Reps.”

Flichel was a recent guest on the PHPA Podcast where he discussed his hockey journey, involvement with the PHPA, how that helped set him up for a post hockey career, and what he has been up to since retiring as a professional hockey player: