The PWHLPA sent a memo to all players and agents this week setting further guidelines for the fees agents are allowed to collect.
PWHLPA executive director Brian Burke sent out a memo to all PWHL players and agents this week outlining compensation stipulations for agents.
Among the items listed were:
- A maximum of 3% (less may be agreed-upon) for player contract negotiations.
- A maximum of 20% (less may be agreed-upon) for endorsements.
- No fees may be assessed against PWHL mandated awards or bonuses.
- No fees may be assessed against any funds paid for international or national team play.
The fees and stipulations described can be applied to all player contracts, which is a reversal from a pre-season memo sent to players by PWHL Director of Player Experience Alexis Miller on behalf of the PWHLPA, stating that agents would be banned from collecting a fee from players making less than $50,000 per season.
The memo sparked immediate backlash from players and agents who called the decision "extremely dangerous" to players as it would potentially leave the majority of the league without representation.
There are still no requirements for agents in the PWHL related to background checks, certifications, or experience.
Aside from the change to allow agents to collect a fee from players making less than $50,000, much of the initial recommendations from the pre-season memo remain including stating that fees "shall be capped at 3%. Other fees shall be capped at 20%."
There are still currently members of the PWHL playing without representation from an agent, although many agencies have popped up in the past few years, and more established agents and agencies have more recently added women's hockey divisions.
Agents were mentioned in the PWHL / PWHLPA collective bargaining agreement under Section 7.3, but no guidelines, qualifications, fees, or certification specifications were outlined.