For the first time since 2019, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) will be hosting an in-person Annual Meeting of Player Representatives, which promises to be a unique and memorable experience for all attendees.  Hosted from June 19^th to 23^rd at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, the event will feature several innovative topics and breakout sessions, along with a fantastic line-up of guest presenters.

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

In fact, some notable names who attended the PHPA Annual Meeting as players include Ken Holland, Kevin Cheveldayoff, Mathieu Darche, Ted Nolan, Claude Julien, Brad Treliving, George Parros, Dan Bylsma, and many more.  They not only helped shape the hockey landscape when they were players, but now do so at the game’s highest level. 

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, CFLPA, along with five members of the PHPA Workers’ Compensation Panel of Attorneys.

Players will learn more about US immigration, receive tax advice from experts at Crowe Soberman LLP, discuss financial planning with Advisors from Raymond James & Associates, delve into post-career opportunities, and hear from Isospec Health, a CBD corporation that cultivates (grows), processes (extracts), manufactures, and distributes CBD products, which help naturally heal athletes as safely and quickly as possible. 

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 and all 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 hospitality suites and take part in the PHPA Golf Outing Presented by BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services, Inc. at the Walt Disney World Golf Course, where club rentals are complimentary courtesy of Sutton Special Risk.

The meetings conclude with a Closing Banquet where the PHPA will recognize Marty Flichel as the recipient of the Executive Director’s Honoring the Past Award, as well as Peter Vandermeer who was voted by the Executive Committee as the recipient of the PHPA Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award.  The PHPA Executive Committee will also present a special gift to former AHL President, Dave Andrews, who guided the League for over 26 years.  The evening is 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 including BFL CANADA Risk & Insurance Services Inc., Meritain Health, Insurance Office of America (IOA), Sutton Special Risk, the NHLPA, Isospec Health, Locker Room Lager, Private Housing Network, TELUS Health Programmed Insurance Brokers, and all golf hole sponsors, allowing the PHPA to host this professional and informative meeting experience, while helping to shape the current and future landscape of professional hockey.