The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) will be hosting its Annual Meeting of Player Representatives from June 17^th to 21st at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida which will feature several innovative topics and breakout sessions, along with a fantastic line-up of guest presenters.

The PHPA Annual Meeting is an opportunity for all 60 PHPA Player Representatives across the American Hockey League and ECHL, who have been elected by their teammates, to come together to discuss and recommend solutions to issues that impact players on and off the ice. 

Throughout the meetings, Player Reps are subject to a full agenda including presentations from Executive Director Larry Landon, as well as Hockey Operations staff and Attorneys to discuss common areas of concern and highlight significant issues that occurred throughout the season.  On the business side, players are provided an in-depth overview of the Association’s audited financial reports as well as a re-cap of the PHPA’s business operations from the past year including key sponsorship and licensing programs, plus new and enhanced communications initiatives and marketing platforms.

Other presentations include a panel discussion on workers’ compensation involving representatives from the NFLPA along with five members of the PHPA Workers’ Compensation Panel of Attorneys.

Players will receive tax advice from experts at Crowe Soberman LLP, discuss financial planning with Advisors from Raymond James & Associates, delve into post-career opportunities and educational institutions partnered with the PHPA Career Enhancement Program, and hear from marketing partners including Vizual Edge (vision training) and SportContract (hockey data analytics).

Perhaps most unique is the State of the League Address presentations delivered by ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin and American Hockey League President Scott Howson.  Following an election for open positions on the Executive Committee, Player Reps divide into closed-door breakout sessions with their respective league leaders where any topics are open for discussion.  Many ideas brought forth by players during these breakout sessions have been implemented at the league level.

Outside of the meeting rooms, players and their guests are invited to attend a hospitality suite hosted by the Private Housing Network and Isospec and take part in the PHPA Golf Outing Presented by Exceptional Risk Advisors at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, where club rentals are complimentary courtesy of Insurance Office of America (IOA).

The meetings conclude with a Closing Banquet presented by Meritain Health where the PHPA will recognize Andrew Joudrey as the recipient of the Executive Director’s Honoring the Past Award, as well as Richard Berthelsen who was voted by the PHPA Executive Committee as the 2024 recipient of the PHPA Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award.  The evening will be capped off by a performance that must be seen to be believed from world renowned hypnotist Danny Zzzz!

Presenting Partners of the PHPA Annual Meeting include Meritain Health, Insurance Office of America (IOA), Exceptional Rick Advisors, Isospec Health, Private Housing Network, TELUS Health, Programmed Insurance Brokers (PIB), NexGenRX, and the NHLPA who allow the PHPA to host this professional and informative meeting experience, while helping to shape the current and future landscape of professional hockey.

To view a re-cap of the 2023 PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives, please CLICK HERE.