The National Hockey League Players Association or NHLPA is a labour union that represents the interests of the hockey players in the National Hockey League. The legal agreement between the two organizations is called the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current agreement was signed in 1995 following a lockout which shortened the 1994-95 NHL season by 36 games. The CBA was initially to last for six seasons and be open to re-negotiation in 1998, but was eventually extended to last until September 15, 2004 (one day after the World Cup of Hockey final in Toronto). Another lockout has delayed the start of the 2004-05 NHL season, and it is not yet known when, or even if a new agreement will be signed.

The NHLPA's management is headed by the executive director who is currently Bob Goodenow, who heads an executive board of players who are respresentatives of their individual teams. Managing this board are President Trevor Linden, Vice President Bob Boughner, Vincent Damphousse, Daniel Alfredsson and Bill Guerin. The association formed in June 1967 but not without controversy.

External link

• National Hockey League Players Association (http://www.nhlpa.com)
• National Hockey League (http://www.nhl.com)

Related links

• List of NHL players
• National Hockey League labor dispute (2004)