With the start of the 2015-16 season fast approaching, the PHPA office staff has been hard at work for the past several weeks planning for the annual PHPA Fall Enrollment Tour.  Although our boardroom appears in disarray with player forms, pamphlets, envelopes, boxes, player gifts, and a number of other items tagged specifically by team, it takes a coordinated team effort to pull off such an initiative which is an integral component of the player education process.

Each Fall, PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon, and PHPA Benefits Administrator, Paulette Salewski travel across Canada and the United States, hosting player meetings with each of the 58 teams which comprise the American Hockey League and ECHL combined, to educate players on their rights as professional hockey players.

During each team presentation, which are about 90 minutes in length, players are given a brief history and overview of the PHPA, an in-depth analysis of the health benefits programs afforded to PHPA Members and their families, introduced to the variety of programs offered through their Association (Career Enhancement Program, Membership Assistance Program, business relationships, etc.) and delve into topics which impact players across the sport.  

“Players need to be aware of what their Association does for them, and know that they have a very experienced and dedicated staff at their disposal,” said PHPA Executive Director, Larry Landon.  “We educate and inform our Members about what their union does for them, so when they eventually reach the NHL (nearly 90% of current NHL players were at one time PHPA Members), they are fully acclimated to a unionized environment.”

The first leg of the tour includes visits with approximately 15 teams in a span of 10 days before embarking a few days later for the next swing.  The process continues until PHPA staff have met with the players from every team, which typically takes 7 – 8 weeks to complete.

“It’s tiring, but an essential component of what we do,” added Landon.  “You can’t beat face-to-face interaction with players.  It allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of what is going on, while bringing players up to speed on all aspects of the PHPA and their respective Collective Bargaining Agreement.”

Prior to departing on the annual tour, PHPA staff prepare various print materials, forms, notices and a host of other information in individualized envelopes for each player.  Information contained on the PHPA Players’ Only website and mobile app is updated to reflect the 2015-16 season, while staff travel schedules are determined based on each team’s home schedule and availability.

As well, in what amounts to perhaps the players’ favorite part of the meeting, new PHPA swag is ordered and provided to each player.  This year, players will receive PHPA mesh caps from Old Time Hockey as well as PHPA puck-bottle openers produced by Athletica Sport Systems (for more on this year’s Fall player gifts please CLICK HERE).

The start of hockey season is always the busiest time of year at the PHPA office, and this year will be no exception.  With new teams in different markets and other teams transitioning to different leagues, players will be kept well informed, and PHPA staff will be kept busy.