Brian Burke, the new executive director of the PWHLPA, addressed the player pool and media this week.

Brian Burke is the new executive director of the PWHL's Players' Association, and he had his first opportunity to address the league's player pool and media this week.

In a Zoom call to prospective players, Burke told the players he "actually started crying," and was "so proud" to get the call asking him to be the Association's executive director.

"This is a dream come true," he added, saying his goal is to have a woman doing the job in a few years instead of him.

While many have feared differing treatment among PHF and PWHPA players, not to mention incoming European, USports, and NCAA players, Burke reassured the group that "all are welcome here." 

Burke reassured players that no bias based on where players were coming from would exist in the selection process.

"We are committed to a platform of fairness and equity and equality," Burke said addressing media in a press conference. "We don't care where you played before, we're excited to have you here, if you can play here, you can play."

Burke sees the league as a culmination of rapid growth in women's hockey in recent years.

"What excites me about it is how far the game has come," said Burke, who started following the game in Nagano, which he called a personal "watershed moment."