Uncertainty surrounds CHL, Bees

McALLEN - About six weeks ago, Rio Grande Valley's Ryan Shmyr was working at his restaurant with his brother in Fairview, Ab.

Shmyr, who rejoined the Bees in early August, said he received an e-mail from the Professional Hockey Players Association telling him, in his words, "don't quit your summer jobs, because we might have to go on strike."

"I didn't know if it was a serious e-mail or what was going on," Shmyr said Wednesday after skating with teammates at the RGV Ice Center. "As you find out as it goes along, sure enough, the union's trying to get in. It's all kind of a shock. Most of us aren't participating in the talks or really know what's going on, so it is a weird situation for us. It affects us all, but nobody really knows what's going on. We're just waiting and seeing."

If Shmyr and the rest of the Bees are like PHPA executive director Larry Landon, they might have to be patient. One day after the PHPA declared a strike against the Central Hockey League, Landon further explained why the PHPA felt this course of action was necessary less than one week before training camps are scheduled to open.

"We're in it for the long haul. The players certified us to protect them and to advance their rights. Outside of any pressure they have, peer pressure, management pressure, community pressure, we're going to do everything we can to make sure it's right," Landon said. "In the end, this is going to be good for the league, it's going to be good for the owners, it's going to be good for the players and the fans will embrace the fact that we have worked hard to create somewhat of a parity situation, where there's not always three or four teams running away with the crown."

The last time the two sides met in person was Sept. 11, with future talks coming soon. Since the last meeting, the PHPA has been sending proposals to the league, more than two-thirds of which CHL commissioner Duane Lewis said have gotten responses. Further complicating the negotiations are the fact these are the first between the CHL and the PHPA, meaning that each side would like to set standards in its own favor moving forward.

In 2003, the PHPA and ECHL negotiated their first deal, one that took over 15 months. The CHL and PHPA have been negotiating since late May, with the relative lack of time leading to Lewis' "surprise" that the PHPA called for a strike.

"The experience of renewing a CBA is a lot easier because the guidelines have been established. We are setting down a precedent for our league, for the players that are currently in our league and for players coming after them," Lewis said. "These are not decisions that can be entered into lightly for the players or the owners. "

One choice the players do have is whether to report to camp Monday morning in Hidalgo. It's a decision that players will have to face if there is no resolution.

"It's going to be up to them," Bees forward Rob Voltera said. "You have to think about what you want to do. You have to think, "If I go, who's going to get mad at me in town? And if I don't go, then I know who's going to get mad at me.' It's the uncertainty of ... what are you going to do?"

Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.