Paul Kelly (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Paul V. Kelly is the executive director of College Hockey, Inc. and a former Executive Director
of the National Hockey League Players' Association, serving in the latter role from October 24, 2007 to August 31, 2009.
lawyer
who founded Boston
-based law firm Kelly, Libby and Hoopes.
Kelly had served as the assistant United States attorney during the trial and investigation of then-NHLPA head Alan Eagleson
over corruption and embezzlement. Eagleson eventually plead guilty to fraud in Boston
and was imprisoned in Toronto
.
In 2000, Kelly represented Marty McSorley
during the latter's trial in Vancouver
for on-ice assault with a hockey stick.
who had been ousted for secretly monitoring player e-mail accounts.
Kelly was strongly in favour of adding an NHL team in Canada
.
On August 31, 2009, Kelly was unexpectedly fired as head of the National Hockey league Players' Association following several hours of meetings in Chicago
. Russ Conway
, the former Lawrence Eagle Tribune NHL and Boston Bruins
sportswriter who had helped to expose Alan Eagleson
's corrupt practices, described Kelly as the first "true, clean" leader the NHLPA ever had, and said "this is a very sad day for hockey. Unfortunately, the union continues to drink the Kool-Aid
.”
Some have speculated that Kelly was forced out in a power struggle. Kelly had ordered forensic audit of the union's activities over the previous three years, which had apparently revealed that Ian Penny and Eric Lindros
had been spending millions of dollars of the union's money. Both favored Kelly's firing, and it has been suggested that Kelly had earlier forced Lindros to resign. Ron Pink, advisory board head, who had also applied for Kelly's position in 2007, and an ombudsman, Buzz Hargrove
were also instrumental in the decision to dismiss Kelly.
Hargrove, Penny, Pink, Pulver and Lindros were said to represent the "old guard of the NHLPA", one that was confrontational and focused on driving up player salaries, rather than the overall financial well-being of the league, and believed that the union conceded too in negotiations during the 2004-05 lockout. Kelly was not involved with the NHLPA when the deal was negotiated, nonetheless he stated publicly that he did not want to see another work stoppage when the agreement expires on September 15, 2011. The other executives felt that he was heading in the wrong direction, and that his relationship with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman
and Bill Daly
had grown too close, as they believed that the NHLPA should use whatever means necessary, including a work stoppage, to get the best deal for the players.
Ian Penny was named the interim director later that day. Donald Fehr
became the permanent Executive Director on August 26, 2010.
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the National Hockey League Players' Association, serving in the latter role from October 24, 2007 to August 31, 2009.
Career
Kelly is a prominent MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who founded Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
-based law firm Kelly, Libby and Hoopes.
Kelly had served as the assistant United States attorney during the trial and investigation of then-NHLPA head Alan Eagleson
Alan Eagleson
Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
over corruption and embezzlement. Eagleson eventually plead guilty to fraud in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and was imprisoned in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
In 2000, Kelly represented Marty McSorley
Marty McSorley
Martin James "Marty" McSorley is a retired Canadian professional hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League from 1983 to 2000. A versatile player, he was able to play both the forward and defense positions. He is also a former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the American...
during the latter's trial in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
for on-ice assault with a hockey stick.
NHLPA Director
Kelly was appointed as Executive Director of the NHLPA, replacing Ted SaskinTed Saskin
Ted Saskin is the former NHL Players Association executive director. He assumed the title after Bob Goodenow resigned on July 28, 2005, but was unanimously fired by the NHLPA on May 10, 2007, after a union-commissioned report concluded Saskin had quarterbacked a campaign to hack into player email...
who had been ousted for secretly monitoring player e-mail accounts.
Kelly was strongly in favour of adding an NHL team in Canada
Potential National Hockey League expansion
The National Hockey League has undergone several rounds of expansion and other organizational changes during its nearly 100-year history to reach its current number of thirty teams: twenty-three in the United States, and seven in Canada...
.
On August 31, 2009, Kelly was unexpectedly fired as head of the National Hockey league Players' Association following several hours of meetings in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Russ Conway
Russ Conway
Russ Conway was a British popular music pianist. Conway had 20 piano instrumentals in the UK Singles Chart between 1957 and 1963, including two number one hits.-Career:...
, the former Lawrence Eagle Tribune NHL and Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
sportswriter who had helped to expose Alan Eagleson
Alan Eagleson
Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
's corrupt practices, described Kelly as the first "true, clean" leader the NHLPA ever had, and said "this is a very sad day for hockey. Unfortunately, the union continues to drink the Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid is a brand of flavored drink mix owned by the Kraft Foods Company.-History:Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska, United States. All of his experiments took place in his mother's kitchen. Its predecessor was a liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack...
.”
Some have speculated that Kelly was forced out in a power struggle. Kelly had ordered forensic audit of the union's activities over the previous three years, which had apparently revealed that Ian Penny and Eric Lindros
Eric Lindros
Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
had been spending millions of dollars of the union's money. Both favored Kelly's firing, and it has been suggested that Kelly had earlier forced Lindros to resign. Ron Pink, advisory board head, who had also applied for Kelly's position in 2007, and an ombudsman, Buzz Hargrove
Buzz Hargrove
Basil Eldon "Buzz" Hargrove, OC is the former National President of the Canadian Auto Workers trade union...
were also instrumental in the decision to dismiss Kelly.
Hargrove, Penny, Pink, Pulver and Lindros were said to represent the "old guard of the NHLPA", one that was confrontational and focused on driving up player salaries, rather than the overall financial well-being of the league, and believed that the union conceded too in negotiations during the 2004-05 lockout. Kelly was not involved with the NHLPA when the deal was negotiated, nonetheless he stated publicly that he did not want to see another work stoppage when the agreement expires on September 15, 2011. The other executives felt that he was heading in the wrong direction, and that his relationship with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman
Gary Bettman
Gary Bruce Bettman is the commissioner of the National Hockey League , a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association...
and Bill Daly
Bill Daly
William L. "Bill" Daly is an attorney and the Current Deputy Commissioner and chief legal officer of the NHL under Commissioner Gary Bettman. He is also a Hockey Hall of Fame Board Member and former NHL Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. Before joining the NHL front office he worked for the...
had grown too close, as they believed that the NHLPA should use whatever means necessary, including a work stoppage, to get the best deal for the players.
Ian Penny was named the interim director later that day. Donald Fehr
Donald Fehr
Donald M. Fehr is the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association. He previously served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1986-2009....
became the permanent Executive Director on August 26, 2010.