Chicago Blackhawks organizations players officially go on strike and walk
ECHL players have officially notified the league they will strike starting Friday when the holiday break ends, after negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement collapsed and basic conditions became a flashpoint among players and the Professional Hockey Players Association.
The league and its players have been without a current CBA since it expired in June, and while both sides were playing this 2025-26 season under the old terms, talks have stalled on issues like fair wages, rest and recovery, and safety standards.
PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay said the league's conduct in talks has been «unlawful and coercive,» and that his members want fundamental protections that allow them to stay healthy, compete at a high level, and build sustainable professional careers.
«We have informed the ECHL that we are willing to continue discussions to resolve all outstanding matters. For several months, we have been engaged in bargaining with the league, and their unlawful and coercive conduct throughout this process has been incredibly disappointing. We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers. Our members have never been more united and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time. We sincerely hope the ECHL will engage in good-faith negotiations so a fair agreement can be reached and any disruption to the season can be avoided.»
The union says they filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the league made unilateral changes to mandatory bargaining topics and that communications through team management were inappropriate.
Fans and local businesses around ECHL cities, from the Fort Wayne Komets to the Toledo Walleye, are bracing for disruption if games are canceled, with many worried about the economic and community impact of a work stoppage.
Players push for safety, rest and fair wages in ECHL strike
The union's open letter to fans highlighted pay that often leaves players earning well under what referees make for the same game, and raised concerns about rigorous travel demands and inadequate rest periods.
Daily Faceoff
PHPA's statement kept the door open to negotiations, noting that members are ready to return to the table at any time if the league engages in good-faith discussions to resolve outstanding matters.
Local supporters are conflicted; some say the players deserve better treatment and safety protocols, while others dread losing out on the experience of weekly games that knit communities together.
The ECHL publicly offered a proposal including a significant salary cap increase, coverage of housing, utilities, and medical benefits, and a mandatory day off each week, but the PHPA argues these measures still leave players below inflation since the last agreement.
With the strike set to begin Friday, the league and union now face a critical weekend where trust and negotiation strategy will determine whether play resumes or the season grinds to a halt.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
| POLL |
DECEMBRE 23 | 34 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks organizations players officially go on strike and walk Will the ECHL strike be resolved soon? |
| Yes | 8 | 23.5 % |
| No | 16 | 47.1 % |
| CBA Soon | 6 | 17.6 % |
| Longer Fight | 4 | 11.8 % |
| List of polls |