TORONTO -- The NHL Players' Association officially nominated
former assistant U.S. attorney Paul Kelly on Monday for its
executive director position.
The nomination was made during a conference call Monday night
with the union's 30 player representatives, who will conduct a
secret ballot vote during the next week. A majority vote is
required for Kelly to be elected.
The five-player search committee, consisting of Eric Lindros,
Chris Chelios, Mike Cammalleri, Shawn Horcoff and Robyn Regehr, got
help from Chicago search firm Reilly Partners and interviewed a
long list of candidates before narrowing it to three. NFL Players
Association lawyer Richard Berthelsen, and Bill Gregson, president
and CEO of sports store chain Forzani Group, were the other
finalists with Kelly.
Kelly is a partner at Kelly, Libby & Hoopes, a Boston law firm
that specializes in internal investigations and complex civil and
administrative litigation. He previously served as an assistant
U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, and was involved
in the investigation of former NHLPA leader Alan Eagleson.
Kelly was also Marty McSorley's lawyer when the former NHL
defenseman was charged for his assault on former Vancouver Canucks
tough guy Donald Brashear.
Ted Saskin was fired as executive director union last May amid
allegations he ordered the spying of NHLPA player e-mail in the
midst of a player uprising that challenged how he took over for Bob
Goodenow after the NHL lockout in 2005.