The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) announced today that its ECHL membership has served a strike notice effective December 26, 2025, following a strike authorization mandate delivered on December 18, 2025. 

As a result of the league’s ongoing unfair labor practices, the PHPA’s ECHL membership has been forced to take this step to protect the integrity of the bargaining process.

The league’s ongoing unfair labor practices have undermined and obstructed the lawful collective bargaining process. The league’s unlawful conduct dates back to late spring/early summer, when it made unilateral changes to mandatory subjects of bargaining and engaged in regressive negotiations. This prompted the PHPA to file an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to remedy the league’s unlawful conduct and restore the parties’ statutory obligation to bargain in good faith.

PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay issued the following statement: 

“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.”