The Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) is a North American professional association for ice hockey journalists writing for newspapers, magazines and websites. The PHWA was founded in 1967 and has approximately 180 voting members.[1] The association was founded as the National Hockey League Writers' Association, then renamed itself to the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in 1971.
Functions
PHWA members vote for the following seven National Hockey League (NHL) individual awards:[2] Hart Memorial Trophy, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, Calder Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, and Frank J. Selke Trophy.[3][2] Members of the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association vote for the Jack Adams Award (coaching),[1][3] while the NHL general managers vote for the Vezina Trophy (top goalie).[1][3] Members of the National Hockey League Players' Association vote for the Ted Lindsay Award. There are several other NHL awards, including the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award and the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.[3]
The members of the PHWA also vote for the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, presented by the Hockey Hall of Fame to professional hockey writers.
The association is dedicated to "preserving the rights and improving the access for members of the North American–based media who cover the sport of hockey all over the world".[4] In 2015, president Scott Burnside thought the PHWA was facing new challenges since the number of newspaper and radio journalists were decreasing, and being replaced by social media, independent bloggers, and teams producing their own content.[5]
History
The association was founded as the National Hockey League Writers' Association, then renamed itself to the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in 1971, to distinguish itself from NHL teams.[6]
Following a physical altercation between Detroit Red Wings' coach Doug Barkley and a Newark Star-Ledger reporter during the 1975–76 season, president Dan Stoneking protested to NHL president Clarence Campbell writing that the PHWA was "appalled, disgusted and angered over the incident" which denied post-game access to the team locker room, and demanded a public apology while the assault charges were under investigation.[7]
During the 1976 Stanley Cup Final, Stoneking supported equal access to locker rooms for male and female sportswriters.[8][9] When Montreal Canadiens' coach Scotty Bowman opposed females in the locker room until the players were dressed, female reporters contested that access was required to do their job as timely as their male counterparts to meet publication deadlines. Stoneking presented the PHWA case to NHL president Campbell that both males and females should be allowed or neither.[8] He claimed that approximately half of NHL teams allowed females to post-game access the locker rooms as of the 1977–78 season, and three quarters of teams by the 1980–81 season.[8]
Presidents
List of presidents of the National Hockey League Writers' Association (1966–1971), and the Professional Hockey Writers' Association since 1971:
| Years | President | Media employment | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966–1968 | Tom Fitzgerald | The Boston Globe | [10] |
| 1968–1970 | Red Fisher | Montreal Star | |
| 1970–1971 | George Gross | Toronto Telegram | [11] |
| 1971–1972 | Jack Berry | Detroit Free Press | [6] |
| 1972–1974 | Red Burnett | Toronto Star | [12] |
| 1974–1975 | Bill Brennan | The Detroit News | [13] |
| 1975–1977 | Dan Stoneking | Minneapolis Star | [14] |
| 1977–1979 | Bob Verdi | Chicago Tribune | [15] |
| 1979–1981 | Bill Fleischman | Philadelphia Daily News | [10] |
| 1981–1985 | Francis Rosa | The Boston Globe | |
| 1985–1987 | Rod Beaton | USA Today | |
| 1987–1993 | Scott Morrison | Toronto Sun | |
| 1993–1999 | Jim Kelley | The Buffalo News | |
| 1999–2001 | Helene Elliott | Los Angeles Times | |
| 2001–2003 | Larry Brooks | New York Post | |
| 2003–2013 | Kevin Allen | USA Today | |
| 2013–2017 | Scott Burnside | ESPN | [16] |
| 2017–2018 | Mark Spector | Sportsnet | [10] |
| 2019–2025 | Frank Seravalli | The Sports Network | |
| 2025–present | Stephen Whyno | Associated Press |
See also
References
- Duhatschek, Eric (April 8, 2011). "Handing out the NHL hardware". TheGlobeandMail.com. The Globe and Mail, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- "PHWA Awards". Professional Hockey Writers Association. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- "2015 NHL Awards". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- "Home". hockeywriters.net.
- Erickson, Kelly (February 22, 2015). "Q & A With Scott Burnside". Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- The Canadian Press (January 20, 1971). "Hockey writers change name". The Albertan. Calgary, Alberta. p. 13.
- Colletti, Al (November 18, 1975). "Off-ice violence: Scribe assault rap against Barkley". Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. p. 23.
- Stoneking, Dan (September 30, 1978). "A writer is a writer – period". The Minneapolis Star. p. 10.; Stoneking, Dan (September 10, 1981). "Women reporters still getting cold showers". The Minneapolis Star. p. 46.
- Cohen, Ben (February 4, 2007). "Dan Stoneking, print and radio journalist". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. B6.
- "About the PHWA". Professional Hockey Writers' Association. 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- "Barry[sic] Named V.P. Of NHL Sportswriters". The Evening News. Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. Associated Press. January 21, 1970. p. 8.
- "Dulmage Returned". Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. January 26, 1972. p. 28.
- "Brennan heads hockey writers". Montreal Star. Montreal, Quebec. January 30, 1974. p. 66.
- "Dulmage bows out". Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. January 22, 1975. p. 34.
- "Verdi to head group". South Idaho Press. Burley, Idaho. January 26, 1977. p. 7.
- Holmes-Hill, Millar (November 15, 2024). "Ex-Windsor Star sports journalist inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame". Windsor Star. Retrieved May 8, 2025.