TORONTO (Sept. 13, 2025) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow at the age of 72.
Bob was an exceptionally influential leader whose unwavering commitment to the players helped shape the modern era of the NHLPA. He joined the NHLPA in 1990 as Deputy Executive Director and transitioned to Executive Director in 1992, stabilizing the Association during a tumultuous time. Bob quickly put his stamp on the organization by elevating the level of representation provided by the NHLPA’s staff, tirelessly working to educate the players, strengthening the membership and building trust in the office’s work on behalf of the players.
Bob served as Executive Director from 1992 to 2005, during which he led with conviction amidst profound transformation in the game. He was a fierce advocate for players’ rights and worked to strengthen their collective voice at the bargaining table and beyond.
Bob was not just a labour leader, he was also a player. A proud captain of the Harvard men’s hockey team, he also competed internationally with Team USA in the 1974 and 1975 World Championships. His competitive spirit and love for the game carried over into his time with the Flint Generals of the IHL, before he shifted his focus to law and player advocacy.
During his tenure, Bob was relentless in the fight for players’ rights. He negotiated landmark gains in salary, free agency, pension, and health benefits, and he led the players in taking control of their name, image and likeness rights in 1992. He also helped to establish pioneering programs, such as player salary disclosure, the second medical opinion program for players, the agent certification program, and he worked with the NHL to implement the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for players and their families.
Bob brought players into the modern business era of the game, building robust licensing and sponsorship programs at the NHLPA, investing in technology and education, and ensuring that players had a voice in shaping the future of the game. To deliver in these areas, and others, Bob took the NHLPA’s professional staff from only three people to more than 50 employees by the end of his tenure. Under Bob’s leadership, the Players’ Association and the league jointly launched the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and brought NHL players to the Olympic Games for the first time in 1998 in Nagano, followed by Salt Lake City in 2002.
Bob also co-founded NHLPA Goals & Dreams in 1999. The program empowers players to give back to the game by donating complete sets of new hockey equipment and resources to grassroots hockey programs around the world, a contribution of generosity and inclusion that continues to this day.
Bob’s legacy is perhaps best captured by the trust and pride he built among the players. Through unwavering advocacy, he created unity in a diverse, global membership, reinforcing that the players are not just participants in the game, but essential to its success.
The modern NHLPA, and the work it has done to improve the quality of life for thousands of players past and present, is a direct result of the foundation that Bob Goodenow built. His impact on the game of hockey is lasting and profound.
We extend our deepest condolences to Bob’s wife, Wendy, his children, Joe, Katharine and Kerry, and grandchildren, Kelsey, RL and Oona, as well as his family and friends. He will forever remain a vital part of the NHLPA family.