NORFOLK, Va. — The ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA) have both officially ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, ending the players’ strike that brought professional hockey in the league to a standstill.
The 2025-2026 ECHL regular season is now set to officially resume.
"This new agreement ratified by both the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players' Association significantly increases player compensation, improves health and safety and delivers on new initiatives that are responsive to our players' needs, while supporting our league's continued growth and ability to put an entertaining and accessible product on the ice for our fans and the communities we serve," said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. "I am so appreciative of the dedication and effort of our CBA committee who worked tirelessly to reach this agreement on behalf of the entire ECHL community."
Players, including those with the Norfolk Admirals, walked off the ice Friday, halting games across the league. The Admirals’ matchups scheduled for Friday and Saturday were canceled.
At the heart of the dispute were concerns over player safety, travel conditions, scheduling, and pay. Players pushed for limits on lengthy bus trips between consecutive games, guaranteed rest days, improved and properly fitted safety gear, and scheduling changes designed to minimize fatigue and injury risks. They also sought salary increases that keep pace with inflation.
The Norfolk Admirals home games on January 2, and January 3, as well as all home games previously scheduled for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, will be played as originally planned.
The ECHL is a developmental league, two tiers below the NHL, with 30 teams spread across the United States and Canada.
