(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce that Glenn Patrick has been voted by the PHPA Executive Committee as the 2019 recipient of the PHPA Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award.

The award, named in honor of former PHPA Executive Director, Curt Leichner, is presented annually to a member of the hockey community who has made significant contributions towards the advancement of professional minor league hockey, and has continued to diligently serve the sport. 

Patrick played eight seasons at the professional level from 1971 to 1979 split between the International Hockey league (IHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), Central Hockey League (CHL), World Hockey Association (WHA), American Hockey League (AHL), and National Hockey League (NHL).  He became a PHPA Player Representative for the Denver Spurs in 1973 and was elected President of the PHPA Executive Committee that summer.  Among his many contributions to the PHPA, Patrick helped initiate the process for the PHPA to become the eventual collective bargaining representative for players in the IHL, which was the top developmental league for the AHL at the time.  He remained involved with the PHPA until 1980, helping advance several initiatives on behalf of the players.

“If it weren’t for players like Glenn Patrick, the PHPA would not be the entity it is today,” said PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon.  “His efforts and vision helped players secure both monetary and non-monetary benefits which allowed the Association to progress in an era when player – management relations were not as stabilized as they are today.”

“I am humbled, honored, and awed to receive the Curt Leichner Distinguished Member Award,” said Glenn Patrick.  “Humbled because I was considered for such a prestigious award.  Honored to receive an award named for someone that I admired so much.  And awed to be included with the rest of the recipients that have given so much to the game of hockey and to the PHPA, many of them good friends of mine.  Thank you to everyone involved in the selection process.”

Patrick transitioned to a coaching career beginning in 1982-83 with Peoria of the IHL for one season before becoming a pro scout.  He returned to coaching in 1992-93 as the Assistant Coach for the ECHL’s Hampton Road Admirals.  In 1994, Patrick joined the Pittsburgh Penguins’ front office until 1997 when he was named Assistant Coach for the Syracuse Crunch.  Two years later he became the Head Coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins until 2003 and spent the next three seasons as the Head Coach of the Wheeling Nailers.

Patrick will be presented with the Award this June at the 2019 PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives.  Previous recipients of the Award include Doug Messier (2008), Don Cherry and Ron MacLean (2009), Arlo Goodwin (2010), Darcy Regier (2011), Ron Jaros (2012), Claude Julien (2013), Ted Nolan (2014), Karen Bender (2015), Rick Gorman and Phil Mazzone (2016), Brad Treliving (2017), and Bob Riley (2018).

Related article: How Glenn Patrick Carved His Own Hockey Legacy

About the PHPA

Since its inception in 1967, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) has continued to serve as an advocate of player interests.  Currently, the PHPA is the certified, U.S. National Labor Relations Board collective bargaining representative for over 1,600 players across 58 teams throughout the American Hockey League and ECHL.  Visit PHPA.com, follow the PHPA on Facebook (fb.com/thephpa), Twitter (@thephpa), and Instagram (@thephpa).