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East Coast Hockey League PHPA Collective Bargaining Agreement
The following are frequently asked questions of key elements in the current ECHL – PHPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Please note, this is merely a summary of the clauses within the agreement and does not constitute the official language of the agreement.
What is the length of the CBA?
Is there a Salary Cap in the ECHL?
Is there a Weekly Minimum Salary a Player will earn in the ECHL?
How is the allocation of the playoff pool determined?
What is the Per Diem Allowance for ECHL Players?
Is a Player required to pay his own Moving Expenses during the Season?
What is a Veteran and is there a limit on how many can be on an Active Roster?
What is a Player Assistant Coach?
Are players reimbursed for pre-season and end of season travel expenses?
Does a Player receive Off-Ice Insurance?
Is dental care provided to Players?
What is the dispute resolution process?
Is a Player entitled to his own medical records?
Is a Membership Assistance Program available to ECHL Players?
Are ECHL Players allowed to play in the AHL or NHL?
Will a Strike of Lockout occur during the term of this CBA?
How many games do teams play under an ECHL Schedule?
How long is the All-Star Break? What do the Players receive for participating?
What does the Regular Season Champion receive?
How much Bereavement/Family Leave do players receive?
Is equipment provided to ECHL Players?
Is a Career Enhancement Program available to ECHL Players?
What type of commitment do ECHL Players make to Promotional Activities?
What is the length of the CBA?
The CBA is five (5) years in duration, beginning July 1, 2018 and expiring June 30, 2023.
An active roster consists of a maximum of twenty (20) Players who have signed a Standard Player Contract (SPC) or have been assigned or loaned to the ECHL Club by an NHL/AHL team. A Player on Injured Reserve is not on the active roster. For the first thirty (30) days following the commencement of the season, the Active Roster shall mean a maximum of twenty-one (21) Players.
Is there a Salary Cap in the ECHL?
Yes. The weekly Salary Cap to be shared amongst all Players on the Active Roster shall be as follows:
First 30 Days of Season (due to one extra roster slot):
- 2018/19- $13,470 US
- 2019/20- $13,780 US
- 2020/21- $14,090 US
- 2021/22- $14,400 US
- 2022/23- $14,610 US
Balance of Season:
- 2018/19- $13,000 US
- 2019/20- $13,300 US
- 2020/21- $13,600 US
- 2021/22- $13,900 US
- 2022/23- $14,100 US
The salary cap is higher for the first 30 days of the Season due to the one extra roster slot available.
The Rookie Salary Cap is the maximum weekly allowable salary for a Player who has played fewer than 25 regular season professional games. The amounts are as follows:
- 2018/19- $550 US
- 2019/20- $560 US
- 2020/21- $575 US
- 2021/22- $585 US
- 2022/23- $600 US
The Salary Floor is the minimum total salary paid by a Member Club to Players on the Active Roster. The amounts are as follows:
- 2018/19- $9,850 US
- 2019/20- $10,100 US
- 2020/21- $10,350 US
- 2021/22- $10,600 US
- 2022/23- $10,750 US
Is there a Weekly Minimum Salary a Player will earn in the ECHL?
Yes. For a Player who has played in fewer than 25 regular season professional hockey games at the beginning of the Season who has signed a Standard Player Contract and who was not on an ECHL team’s End of Season roster:
- 2018/19- $470 US
- 2019/20- $480 US
- 2020/21- $490 US
- 2021/22- $500 US
- 2022/23- $510 US
For all other Players:
- 2018/19- $510 US
- 2019/20- $520 US
- 2020/21- $530 US
- 2021/22- $545 US
- 2022/23- $555 US
How is the allocation of the playoff pool determined?
Any Player participating in the playoffs or on the club’s injured reserve continues to get paid salary. The Playoff Pool is payment in addition to Salary, paid by the team from the required contributions of all ECHL teams participating in the Playoffs. The Playoff Pool shall be allocated for distribution among the Players on the Active Roster as the Players and the PHPA shall elect.
- 2018/19- $230,000 US
- 2019/20- $235,000 US
- 2020/21- $240,000 US
- 2021/22- $245,000 US
- 2022/23- $250,000 US
What is the Per Diem Allowance for ECHL Players?
The per diem allowance for each Player accompanying his team while he is away from his home arena in excess of 25 miles for the purpose of playing a mandatory practice, regular season, or post-season game is as follows:
- 2018/19- $43 per day
- 2019/20- $44 per day
- 2020/21- $46 per day
- 2021/22- $48 per day
- 2022/23- $50 per day
If the team is on a road trip of five (5) consecutive days, the team is required to provide an additional dinner or pre-game meal in addition to the payments above.
In addition, when a team plays a home game and immediately leaves its Home Arena to play a road game, the team must provide each Player with a meal or a fifteen dollar ($15) per diem payment and beverages, fruits, and snacks on the bus during road travel.
Training Camp shall not open prior to fourteen (14) calendar days before the league’s first regular season game, and will end at 11:59PM EST on the day before the first Regular Season game. All players shall receive per diem payment for meals, or 3 meals per day provided by team through the end of training camp, or until the player is released. The team shall provide, at its expense, reasonable and appropriate lodging to all Players and Invitees who participate in training camp.
Is a Player required to pay his own Moving Expenses during the Season?
Any Player who is traded, claimed, or assigned during the season shall receive reimbursement for reasonable moving expenses for the Player, Spouse, and his children from the acquiring team. In the event the Player is traded during a road trip, the acquiring team shall reimburse and allow the Player to return to the prior Home territory in order to secure his personal effects.
What is a Veteran and is there a limit on how many can be on an Active Roster?
Each team shall be limited to four (4) Veterans on its Active Roster. A Veteran shall mean a Player, other than a goaltender, who has played in at least 260 regular season games of professional hockey.
What is a Player Assistant Coach?
Each team may designate one Player as the Player Assistant Coach during the Season, but such designation shall be at no additional compensation or benefits except as provided in the CBA.
Each team reserves the rights to all Players on its Protected List during the Season until 11:59PM Eastern Time on June 15. No player on a team’s Season Ending Roster shall be traded by a Member after June 15 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time. At this time, all trades from the previous season, including trades for future considerations, shall be considered final.
A team shall only be entitled to reserve Rights to a maximum of eight (8) Qualified Players. Of these eight (8) Qualified Players, no more than four (4) of the Qualified Players shall be Veterans. “Qualified Player” shall mean a Player who is listed on a team’s Season Ending Roster who has received a Qualifying Offer from that team. A “Qualifying Offer” shall mean an offer of a Standard Player Contract to a Qualified Player.
Are players reimbursed for pre-season and end of season travel expenses?
Yes, for pre-season travel, the team will provide the player with either a one-way or round-trip airline ticket(s) from the Player’s home to the team’s Home Territory. If the Player drives, reimbursement for the actual cost of transportation of the Player, Spouse, and his children as evidenced by written receipts, must be submitted by the Player to the Club within seven (7) days after reporting to the team. Full payment of all expenses shall be made to the Player within seven (7) days of the Player’s arrival at the Home Territory and the furnishing of receipts.
For end of season travel, the Club shall provide travel to the Player’s home, provided that the Player is on the Active Roster or Injured Reserve at the End of the Season or is Released and not claimed off of waivers. The Player may request an advance equal to his travel cost incurred to arrive in the Home Territory. If during the season, the Player arrived from other than his home and is driving to his home, the team shall complete a Travel Home Advance Form and deliver it to the Player with the advance. If the actual cost is more than the advance, the Player shall be reimbursed for the additional necessary expense to travel to his home upon delivery to the Club of proper receipts documenting all such necessary expenses.
The team shall pay reasonable travel expenses within seven (7) days of the team’s receipt of the Player’s claim. When a Player is traveling via airline, in addition to the Player’s one (1) equipment bag not to exceed fifty (50) pounds (or 2 equipment bags in the case of goaltenders), the Player, Spouse, and his children shall each be entitled to two (2) checked bags containing personal items, not to exceed fifty (50) pounds per bag, or the maximum weight per bag permitted by the airline. Any other baggage must be sent via commercial ground transportation and pre-approved by the team, including pets.
Does a Player receive Off-Ice Insurance?
During the season, each Player on an Active Roster or Injured Reserve shall be eligible to receive off-ice health insurance coverage. Any player’s liability for any off-ice insurance coverage shall immediately cease on the day a Player is called up by an NHL or AHL team, and any such off-ice insurance shall immediately resume upon the Player’s reassignment to his ECHL team by the NHL or AHL team.
Is dental care provided to Players?
A member shall provide at a minimum one check-up per year, that may include x-rays where required, and cleaning with a dentist for each Player, Spouse, and all children, subject to a twenty-five-dollar ($25) co-pay for each person.
What is the dispute resolution process?
Any dispute, controversy, claim, or disagreement arising out of or relating to the CBA, shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration and will follow the procedure outlined below.
A grievance must be initiated by the League or the PHPA within ninety (90) days from the date of the event, or within 90 days from the date on which the facts of the matter became known. The party served with the grievance will answer in writing within twenty-one (21) days of receipt. Unless otherwise resolved, all matters will be submitted by the Commissioner and the Executive Director within 21 days of receipt of any answer. Selection of a neutral arbitrator shall be from a panel designated in a side letter agreement between the parties. The arbitrator shall have the authority to determine the procedural rules of arbitration and to make such binding orders to act effectively. The record shall be closed at the end of the hearing unless the arbitrator orders to the contrary. The arbitrator will issue a written decision no later than thirty (30) days of the close of the record.
Is a Player entitled to his own medical records?
After permission and direction by a Player to the Member physician, a Member shall provide the Player with a copy of all medical records, within (14) days of the End of the Season, or upon Player’s Waiver or Release, or immediately following a documented Player injury, whichever occurs first.
Is a Membership Assistance Program available to ECHL Players?
A drug, alcohol, financial, and stress counseling program has been established by the League and the PHPA. Each team shall donate one (1) game worn Captain’s jersey, which will be auctioned, to help fund the program.
Are ECHL Players allowed to play in the AHL or NHL?
In the event the League and team receive an executed contract/try-out agreement from an AHL/NHL team, the Player shall be allowed to report to that League.
If the team or the Player receives a try-out offer from an NHL/AHL team with no affiliation with the ECHL team, the Player shall not accept the try-out offer until the ECHL team has received a $500 development fee from the non-affiliated NHL/AHL team for each call-up.
Will a Strike of Lockout occur during the term of this CBA?
There shall at no time during the term of this Agreement be any strikes, walkouts, or the use of any method of lockout.
How many games do teams play under an ECHL Schedule?
The regular season shall not exceed seventy-two (72) games.
How long is the All-Star Break? What do the Players receive for participating?
There shall be no travel, practices, regular season games, player appearances or promotions during the three (3) day All-Star Event Break. When a team returns from an away game or completes a home game just prior to the break period, at least seventy-two (72) hours shall pass before having to travel to or practice for a Regular Season game.
In addition, the League shall guarantee that each Player who participates in the All-Star Game receives a flat payment of Three Hundred Dollars ($300) from the host team. The League shall also guarantee that transportation, accommodations, and meals shall be provided by the host team for each Player who participates in the ECHL All-Star Game.
What does the Regular Season Champion receive?
The Regular Season Champions shall receive the following for distribution amongst players who finish the regular season on the Active Roster:
- 2018/19- $2,300 US
- 2019/20- $2,300 US
- 2020/21- $2,300 US
- 2021/22- $2,300 US
- 2022/23- $2,300 US
How much Bereavement/Family Leave do players receive?
In the event of a death of an immediate family member of a Player, the Player shall be entitled to four (4) days leave with pay. Furthermore, the team shall furnish the Player and Spouse with a round-trip ticket from the playing city to the location of the funeral.
A Player may also request Family Leave for the birth of a child, a family emergency or illness, and the Player shall get four (4) days leave with pay.
Is equipment provided to ECHL Players?
It is the responsibility of the team to provide each Player with all equipment, including skates, necessary and appropriate for professional hockey. Equipment must be fit for its intended use at a professional level and provide for the safety and well being of each Player.
Notwithstanding the above, Players who have been on an Active Roster or Injured Reserve for sixty (60) or more days during the Season, with the majority of time being spent on the Active Roster, who have not yet received a pair of skates, are entitled to at least one pair of skates provided by the team.
Is a Career Enhancement Program available to ECHL Players?
Each year, the League shall contribute the following amounts to further the PHPA Career Enhancement Program. The contribution will be paid on or before November 1 of each season and will be used soley for the purpose of educating Players. The PHPA will provide to the League an annual recap of the Players and kind of assistance given.
- 2018/19- $800 US
- 2019/20- $850 US
- 2020/21- $900 US
- 2021/22- $950 US
- 2022/23- $1,000 US
What type of commitment do ECHL Players make to Promotional Activities?
Promotional activities including, but not limited to, personal appearances shall be an obligation of each Player to the team. The Players agree and recognize that certain non-compensated appearances shall be undertaken on behalf of charities and other non-profit organizations as directed by the team.
