The Bloomington Bison return to the ice this week after ECHL players and the league ratified their new collective bargaining agreement following a strike that postponed three Bison games.
The ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association [PHPA] union announced formal ratification of the new five-year contract on Tuesday. They reached a tentative deal Saturday.
Terms of the deal have not yet been released; WGLT has requested a copy of the agreement. Sticking points at the end of negotiations included player pay, time off and travel, offseason medical coverage, name, image, and likeness [NIL] compensation, and off-ice time commitments.
The ECHL season resumes Tuesday night. The Bison play on the road Wednesday night, with their next home game Jan. 7 against the Kalamazoo Wings. That's Retro Night, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a player trading card.
“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,” ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin said in a statement.
“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.”
The new agreement will run through the 2029-30 season.
“This agreement reflects the unity, resolve, professionalism and discipline of our members throughout this process,” PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay said in a statement. “Meaningful progress was made in several key areas identified as priorities by our members, and this outcome would not have been possible without their engagement and support.”
The Bison, a Double A-level affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers, are 13-9-4 in their second season at the city-owned Grossinger Motors Arena.
