In case you hadn't heard, which would be excused in the bustle of getting ready for the holiday season, the ECHL players have served notice of their intent to strike, starting on Christmas.
As background, both the AHL and ECHL players are represented by the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA) and each league has its own Collective Bargaining Agreement with the players in that league. Since the summer, both the AHL and ECHL have been operating without a current CBA in place. Both expired, coincidentally at the same time not by any divine plan, and this season has been played in both leagues under an extension of the prior CBA while negotiations continue.