Labor peace, labor peace everywhere. The AHL announced today that they have ratified a new five-year CBA with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, the union that represents minor league players. David Andrews, AHL President and CEO released a statement:
The American Hockey League remains fortunate to have an extremely positive and open relationship with our players and with the PHPA. This new Collective Bargaining Agreement is the product of a sustained positive and open dialogue between the players and ourselves over the past several months, and continues a longstanding spirit of respect for each other that has allowed the American Hockey League and its players to grow and prosper.
The new deal was ratified unanimously by all parties, and will keep the two sides at peace through August 31st, 2024. Though this doesn’t have a direct impact on the NHL, it does guarantee the health of the primary development league and its teams. Just recently, the AHL announced that Palm Springs would be the home of the league’s 32nd franchise and will serve as the primary affiliate for the Seattle NHL expansion team right from inception.