CHL owner/players ratify CBA

Two-year agreement sets salary cap, number of players, vet rule

CHL team owners have voted in favor of a proposed new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), reaching an agreement with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) on a two-year deal. The ratification by the league’s owners occurred on September 3rd through voting from the member teams along with a majority of the players ratifying the agreement on behalf of the PHPA.

The new CBA will take place immediately and will run through the 2011-12 season establishing financial regulations for the players along with maintaining numerous player oriented programs. Among those programs are off-ice medical insurance, a Career Enhancement Program and free counseling services for players.

"Having the ability to reach this agreement and continue to operate under stable labor/management relations was an opportunity that could not be overlooked," PHPA executive director Larry Landon said in a statement. "Both sides worked tirelessly to come to terms on an agreement, which built upon the existing framework negotiated in the inaugural CBA."

Under the terms of the agreement, CHL teams will work with a salary cap approximate to $11,000 per week ( about $1,000 less than it would have been in the IHL). The $11,000 figure isn't fixed since there are allowances teams can take advantage of to pay their players.

For example, teams can have two players deemed off-season employees, and they can be paid outside of the salary cap. Team can also get a credit against their highest paid player, so that only half his salary counts against the cap.

CHL teams can carry 19 players on their active rosters and dress 18 for games.

Teams can have five veteran players (with 301 or more games on their record) at the beginning of the season, though that number can actually be ballooned to eight if you include goaltenders (who don't count) and an extra veteran who can be added if he was on the roster in 2009-10.

“We are pleased to finalize this Agreement with the PHPA, utilizing the previous CBA as our base,” CHL Commissioner Duane Lewis said. “These processes take time and patience, and the efforts made by both sides to get to this point are much appreciated. We look forward to the upcoming season in the CHL, and know that the fans will enjoy what this year has to offer.”

Image Credit: Central Hockey League