TORONTO (April 29, 2022) – The National Hockey League Players' Association announced today that the Executive Board has voted in favour of forming a Search Committee to lead the NHLPA’s search for a successor to the Executive Director, Don Fehr. An Executive Board conference call was conducted Monday evening and voting concluded this evening at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Executive Board named the following seven players to the committee: Ian Cole (Carolina Hurricanes), Justin Faulk (St. Louis Blues), Sam Gagner (Detroit Red Wings), Zach Hyman (Edmonton Oilers), Kyle Okposo (Buffalo Sabres), Nate Schmidt (Winnipeg Jets) and Kevin Shattenkirk (Anaheim Ducks). Additional members may be added by the Executive Board up to and during the Executive Board meetings in July.
Fehr joined the NHLPA in December 2010, and he has been the Executive Director through two rounds of Collective Bargaining (2013 and 2020).
Statement from the Search Committee:
“The many players who have played in the NHL over the last eleven years greatly appreciate the significant accomplishments under the leadership of Don Fehr. Don joined the NHLPA after a long and successful career as Executive Director of the MLBPA and quickly stabilized the union following a very difficult period. He led the NHLPA through the owners’ 2012-13 lockout and negotiated a new CBA that created a defined benefit pension plan which will greatly benefit players for generations to come. Don played an important role in reviving the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. After Covid-19 forced the suspension of the 2019-20 season, Don led the bargaining that resulted in an extension of the CBA in July 2020 and allowed for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs to be played. We look forward to continuing to work with Don as we go through the succession process.”
Don Fehr will continue to lead the NHLPA as Executive Director throughout the search. The Search Committee will provide a progress report to the Executive Board at the summer meetings in Toronto on July 18-20.
