The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is fortunate to not only be headquartered in the hockey hotbed of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, but situated a mere ten-minute drive away from Brock University in St.Catharines, Ontario, which happens to house a leading Sport Management program churning out a number of promising graduates.  As the program grooms the next wave of sport industry professionals, the PHPA routinely turns to Brock to recruit talented Interns, providing an incredible opportunity for students to gain practical sport industry experience while making an impact on the hockey landscape.

As the Head of Business Operations at the PHPA, Darryl Dionne oversees the Association’s marketing, communications, corporate sponsorships, and licensing initiatives among his many roles and responsibilities.  Dionne has helped cultivate the continued pipeline of interns coming from Brock, and appreciates the time and effort they invest into helping the PHPA on a number of fronts.

“We have had some incredible Interns over the years from Brock’s Sport Management program, who have played an integral role in advancing some of our key initiatives,” said Dionne.  “I love seeing the development the students make from the time they arrive to their last day with us.  They get acclimated to what we do here pretty quick and get to spearhead projects that add meaningful bullet points to their resume.”

Current PHPA Intern Mark Titus, a fourth-year Sports Management student from Brock began assisting Dionne with various business development initiatives on a full-time basis in September, 2014.  He agreed to a part-time role this spring to assist with the Association’s heavy workload during the hockey season, while continuing with his own full academic course load.  Titus echoes Dionne’s observations.

“It’s been an eye opening experience for sure,” said Titus.  “To get to work on projects that directly impact collective bargaining negotiations, and help launch new marketing and communications initiatives has been rewarding.  I didn’t realize how big of an impact and storied history the PHPA has had and continues to have on hockey on so many different levels.” 

The PHPA is the only union for minor-league players within a major league sport, yet there isn’t anything “minor league” about it.  It boasts the second largest membership base among all North American pro-sports unions, representing over 1,400 players from the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL. Only the National Football League Players’ Association has more members.

Led by Executive Director Larry Landon, the primary function of the PHPA focuses on negotiating and enforcing player benefits and rights, as well as terms and conditions of employment by way of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). Primary issues include health and welfare benefits, training camp allowances, travel and trade relocation expenses, daily per diem, housing allowances, dispensing of playoff revenue, licensing rights, revenue sharing, and a number of other aspects contained within each league’s separate and distinct CBA. 

Furthermore, the association has established a Career Enhancement Program for players seeking to advance their education, a Workers’ Compensation Panel of Attorneys to assist injured players, and a Registered Agent Program. There is also an Alumni Association, a “Redline” program designed to provide personal membership assistance, a Distinguished Member Award, a Players’ Only section of the PHPA website, a newly-created players’ mobile app, plus a number of other services directly benefiting PHPA members and their families.

“What people don’t often realize is that nearly 90% of current NHL players first developed within the minor leagues,” said Landon.  “Given the amount of player movement between the NHL, AHL, and ECHL and the number of different stakeholders involved in the game whether it be players, spouses, team management, League offices, agents, media, corporate partners, other player associations, governing bodies, and many others, the PHPA plays a significant role on the hockey landscape.  Having quality Interns on staff who experience an unbelievable opportunity to work in a pro hockey environment is a win-win situation.”

And while Titus has focused much of his time on the Association’s business operations having worked on the recently released 2014-15 AHL Upper Deck trading card product, activation of the Association’s various corporate partner programs, spearheading digital and social media marketing initiatives, helping launch a PHPA Insider newsletter, or providing content for PHPA.com, it’s the intangibles of working within a multi-faceted sport organization which interacts with a number of different key stakeholders where he gains the most value.

“Just being around Larry, Darryl, and the team at the PHPA and seeing how they interact with other people has been a great learning experience,” explained Titus.  “I’ve been fortunate to sit in on conference calls and be part of meetings, and just seeing how different issues are handled on a day-to-day basis has been huge.  It’s not something I can learn in a textbook.  I’ve gained a different perspective into the hockey industry through the PHPA.“    

Looking forward, it will be a busy off-season for the PHPA as it enters into collective bargaining negotiations with the American Hockey League toward a new agreement.  Planning is also ongoing for the PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives taking place this June in Orlando, Florida.  And although hockey isn’t top of mind for many in July and August, operations at the PHPA continue in full swing with ongoing preparations toward the upcoming season.

“There isn’t a lot of down time at the PHPA,” adds Dionne, “and we have actually hired some of our interns as full-time employees following their Internship to help with the workload since we are familiar with their body of work, not to mention their character.  Other Interns have gone on to hold impressive positions in the sport industry shortly after graduation.”

Though Titus’ experience at the PHPA will come to an end following his graduation this spring, he will remain busy pursuing his next opportunity and, ideally land a full-time position within the sports industry. 

“The PHPA has been a cool place to work, and I will definitely use what I heave learned here and the contacts I have made to help secure a full-time position in sports after graduation.  I would strongly recommend any sport management student looking to get into hockey or the business side of sports to Intern at the PHPA.”