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. 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: 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. Members of the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association vote for the Jack Adams Award (coaching), while the NHL general managers vote for the Vezina Trophy (top goalie). 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.
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". 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.
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.
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.
During the 1976 Stanley Cup Final, Stoneking supported equal access to locker rooms for male and female sportswriters.; 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. 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.
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 1968–1970 Red Fisher Montreal Star 1970–1971 George Gross Toronto Telegram 1971–1972 Jack Berry Detroit Free Press 1972–1974 Red Burnett Toronto Star 1974–1975 Bill Brennan The Detroit News 1975–1977 Dan Stoneking Minneapolis Star 1977–1979 Bob Verdi Chicago Tribune 1979–1981 Bill Fleischman Philadelphia Daily News 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 2017–2018 Mark Spector Sportsnet 2019–2025 Frank Seravalli The Sports Network 2025–present Stephen Whyno Associated Press
See also List of National Hockey League awards National Sports Media Association
References
External links Professional Hockey Writers Association official website