Professional Hockey Players’ Association Executive Director Brian Ramsay today shared a series of staff updates within the organization.

Matt Salewski has been appointed senior director of operations, overseeing hockey operations, benefits, workers compensation and the Professional Hockey Players’ Guild. Salewski joined the PHPA in 2014, serving as coordinator of hockey operations for six years before transitioning to benefits and workers’ compensation specialist in 2021.

Joe Colasurdo joins the hockey operations department as manager of hockey operations, after spending the last three years supporting the PHPA’s communications and business development efforts.

Emma Harvey begins with the PHPA as coordinator of hockey operations. Harvey spent the previous four years at Yale, where she played for the women’s hockey team while completing her degree with honours. 

Baron Bedesky and Scott Armstrong will lead the Professional Hockey Players’ Guild initiative as program managers. Bedesky has previously spent 12 years with the PHPA in hockey operations and player relations while Armstrong arrives at the PHPA after successfully leading the CFLPA Academy since 2016.

Darryl Dionne has been named director of corporate partnerships and brand strategy. He originally joined the PHPA in 2007 and has overseen various aspects of the Association during his tenure, including marketing, communications, corporate sales, business development, licensing and partner activation. 

Scott McNaughton has joined the staff as director of communications. His background includes communications and media relations roles with the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
Members of the media are encouraged to direct all PHPA-related inquiries to Scott (smcnaughton@phpa.com).

Kenneth V. Georgetti, CM, OBC, one of Canada’s most respected labour leaders, has been named special assistant to the executive director. Georgetti’s pedigree includes tenures as the president of the British Columbia Federation of Labour, the president of the Canadian Labour Congress and vice-president of the International Trade Union Confederation. He was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 1998 and to the Order of Canada in 2000.

Adam Larry has joined the PHPA as a group licensing and sponsorship advisor. As the President of Jorael Consulting Inc., Larry has helped athletes, sports unions, and brands enhance their engagement and drive revenue growth. With a background that spans over two decades, he has experience with a variety of sports organizations, including the NHLPA, NHL Alumni, NBPA, PWHLPA, CFLPA, NHLCA, MLB Alumni, NBA Alumni, and USFLPA.  

About the PHPA
Since 1967, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) has served to advance and advocate on behalf of its members. The PHPA represents more than 1,800 players across 62 teams in the AHL and ECHL, while also serving more than 10,000 former PHPA Members through its Alumni Network. For more information, please visit PHPA.com.

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