Bruins Minor League Affiliate Postpones Video games Forward of Participant Strike

PORTLAND, ME – The Maine Mariners postponed their weekend house video games after ECHL gamers went on strike Friday, following a breakdown in collective bargaining negotiations. On Friday, December 26, the ECHL membership of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) referred to as a strike. With that, the Maine Mariners, Boston’s ECHL affiliate, issued a statement forward of their house video games this weekend:

“We wanted to provide a statement from the ECHL about collective bargaining with the PHPA and the union’s decision to force all ECHL players to go on strike. The union’s decision to force our players to stop working means that we have to postpone this weekend’s home games on Friday and Saturday against the Worcester Railers and Trois-Rivieres Lions. This could also result in the postponement or rescheduling of additional games, and we will be in direct communication with our fans and supporters as soon as practicable if that is the case, but know that we’re working to have a team on the ice for our next regularly scheduled home game.”

The Mariners are at present ranked ninth within the Eastern Conference. Through 23 video games this season, the Mariners are 11-8-3. A number of Bruins prospects have frolicked in Portland, Maine, this season. Defensemen Loke Johansson (9 GP, 0-2–2), and Jackson Edward (2 GP, 0-0–0), in addition to goaltender Luke Cavallin (14 GP, 9-4-1, 2.05 GAA, .927 SV%). Many gamers on AHL contracts have been backwards and forwards between Maine and Providence.

Edward was reassigned from the Mariners to Providence on Friday morning.

While just one present Bruin, Tanner Jeannot, has ECHL expertise, the league has traditionally served as a viable improvement path to the NHL. Jeannot performed in eight complete video games with the Florida Everblades. Not too way back, the Maine Mariners had successful story: Justin Brazeau. Brazeau performed in 75 ECHL video games, together with 18 with the Mariners, earlier than trending upward to Providence, then touchdown in Boston. Brazeau is at present with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Reports of the participant strike coming to fruition surfaced this week. Both the PHPA and ECHL have taken to open letters and statements to current their circumstances.

On Monday afternoon, the PHPA released an open letter to followers, calling for higher-quality gear and a “day off” that’s not a bus trip house. They additionally requested higher pay. The gamers cited that they helped the league get well from the pandemic, however haven’t seen their cash rise since. This letter from the PHPA referred to as the league out for his or her “bullying to bargaining” ways.

Later that evening, the PHPA announced that the ECHL membership voted to serve a strike discover, efficient on Friday, December 26. This letter cited that the bargaining had gone on for a number of months. The letter used “unlawful and coercive” to explain the ECHL’s conduct all through the negotiations.

On Friday afternoon, the ECHL issued a statement, which included their “last, best, and final offer” to the PHPA. In this assertion, the ECHL supplied to “raise player salaries by 20 percent in the first year, boost their per-diem rate, guarantee more off-days, and expand the top-of-the-line equipment available to players.”

In their assertion, the ECHL claims to have supplied customized sticks, alternate gear, and mandated off days. They additionally offered a 19.8% enhance to the wage cap, which incorporates retroactive pay for this season. The ECHL additionally denies that it has unlawfully contacted gamers all through the negotiation.

Josh Wilkins, a participant for the South Carolina Stingrays, posted an update to his Instagram. He claimed that “the league recently presented a solid proposal that was denied by the PHPA – without first asking the players or holding a vote to determine whether we felt the offer was fair.”

The Maine Mariners’ players released a statement, emphasizing that this isn’t a mirrored image of the Mariners group, however as a substitute, the continuing variations on the league stage. The Mariners gamers praised proprietor Dexter Paine and the workforce’s employees, calling the Bruins’ affiliate one of many league’s high organizations when it comes to participant remedy and help.

The Mariners mentioned they’re “working to have a team on the ice for our next regularly scheduled home game.”

It is unclear what that workforce will seem like. However, an unnamed ECHL participant advised Inside AHL Hockey’s Tony Androckitis that “if we strike, we’re kicked out of our apartments the next day, and they’re calling up players from the SPHL.”

Maine has two street video games scheduled this week. Their first shall be in Trois-Rivieres, QC, on Sunday afternoon. Then, they’re at it once more in Glens Falls, NY, on New Year’s Eve. The subsequent house recreation in Portland is on January 2 towards Adirondack. Additional postponements stay doable because the PHPA and ECHL haven’t but reached an settlement.