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Blackhawks organization players go on strike alongside 28 other teams: The ECHL bargaining agreement caused it

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Joshua Deeds
December 26, 2025 (10:01 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks organization's ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel players, have gone on strike alongside 28 other teams, and the league is blaming the bargaining agreement.

The latest news from the ECHL isn't promising. As a result of the "last, best, and final offer," the Indy Fuel players have gone on strike.

With the strike coming to its peak as players from across the league join in concert, the Indy Fuel are busy handling communications with fans through social media.

The team blames the latest bargaining agreement and has concluded that they put forth their best effort to head off the strike before it occurred and tried to stall a cancellation of games.

However, that wasn't true at all as the players and their union, the PHPA, haven't submitted a vote on the contract.

It looks like the game against the Fort Wayne Komets won't happen tonight.

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The Chicago Blackhawks organization's ECHL affiliate has gone on strike

With the Indy Fuel out of the mix in the ECHL, the Blackhawks' affiliate is a vital stream in their prospect pipeline, which often feeds the AHL, and if a player is good enough, the NHL.

Yanni Gourde and Logan Thompson are recent examples of the league developing players good enough to make the NHL. Blackhawks players who made the NHL and spent some time in the ECHL are Laurent Brossoit, Al MacIsaac, and Nathan Noel.

While not a major source of NHL talent, there are always players who rise to the occasion to find themselves playing their best hockey, catapulting them to the second tier of the minors.

With players going on strike, we have no idea of a timeline to return, but the Blackhawks should consider recalling players who have an AHL contract with the team until the strike subsides.

The ECHL may seem like small potatoes to fans, but for teams, this is a reservoir of labor in dire circumstances. With a multitude of injuries plaguing the Blackhawks, we never know what could happen in the future.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Maple Leafs officially hire ex-Blackhawks forward as new assistant coach

Blackhawks' Anton Frondell dominates day one at World Juniors for Sweden

Blackhawks' Connor Murphy's rumored trade destination down to two specific teams

POLL
DECEMBRE 26 \| 18 ANSWERS Blackhawks organization players go on strike alongside 28 other teams: The ECHL bargaining agreement caused it With the Chicago Blackhawks organization's ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel, going on strike alongside 12 other teams, do you agree that the ECHL bargaining agreement caused it?
▢ Yes
▢ No

Blackhawks organization players go on strike alongside 28 other teams: The ECHL bargaining agreement caused it

The Chicago Blackhawks organization's ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel players, have gone on strike alongside 28 other teams, and the league is blaming the bargaining agreement.

The Chicago Blackhawks organization's ECHL affiliate has gone on strike

With the Chicago Blackhawks organization's ECHL affiliate, the Indy Fuel, going on strike alongside 12 other teams, do you agree that the ECHL bargaining agreement caused it?