Minor leaguers begin planning for life after hockey
By STEPHEN WHYNO
February 5, 2021
(ECHL Allen Americans goaltender) Jake Paterson skated and trained in the morning and studied real estate in the afternoon. (Former ECHL/AHL defenseman) Steve Johnson got his commercial pilot’s license. (Former AHL winger) Ty Randell enjoyed firefighting so much he turned down a contract offer to play the sport he loves.
When the pandemic put sports on ice, many minor league hockey players started planning for what’s next. Several minor league teams are not playing at all this season, resulting in fewer jobs — and those that remained coming with less money. ...
Paterson took advantage of the Professional Hockey Players Association’s career enhancement program, which has been around for 20 years to help players learn another trade for when they hang up their skates. It has never been more popular than now, as 170 PHPA members have signed up since March. ...
“We’ve tried to do everything we can to create as many jobs as we can,” PHPA executive director Larry Landon said. “We’ve asked for compassion from the National Hockey League and their clubs and from the American Hockey League and their clubs because the guys at the bottom of the totem pole are the guys earning the least and need the jobs the most.” ...
Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/professi...demic-hockey-9dea6c1d7860ff8ccb7b0d39c8abdc52