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Leagues and Governing Bodies

ECHL, PHPA Prepare Fund For Players Amid Season Cancellation

Multiple clubs could not afford to keep paying players without gameday revenue sourcesGETTY IMAGES

The ECHL on March 12 "suspended games for its 26 teams" in a decision that came down to safety and money, as the league "isn't populated with deep-pocketed owners like its counterparts at higher levels," according to Alex Prewitt of SI.com. Although the average ECHL salary "hovers around just $700 a week, several clubs simply couldn't afford to keep paying players" without gameday revenues. ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin said, "Certain teams could've made a go of it. But on the whole, it wasn't good financial sense. We are predominately a spectator and fan-based league." Crelin added, "From a legal and labor standpoint, we stayed within the confines of our CBA to treat everyone equally. But we know that there will be some who get affected more than others. That's where we need to come together." Professional Hockey Players Association Exec Dir Larry Landon said that the union and ECHL will form a COVID-19 Economic Relief Fund, intended to "assist players with financial troubles." The PHPA "will make an initial contribution of $200,000 from its coffers but plans to solicit additional donations on a website from sponsors, fans and NHL players with ECHL ties, among others." The "eventual hope is to accumulate upwards of $800,000." How money will be "doled out remains to be determined" (SI.com, 3/20).

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