A labor dispute between the ECHL (formerly known at the East Coast Hockey League) and its players is disrupting the league’s schedule and could affect upcoming home games for the Indy Fuel at the Fishers Event Center, beginning with Sunday’s scheduled 4pm matchup against the Toledo Walleye.
The Fishers Event Center opened with the Indy Fuel as its primary tenant. The team typically plays 36 regular-season home games at the venue each season, not including potential playoff games.
As of December 27, 2025, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) has officially begun a midseason strike against the ECHL following months of unsuccessful negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The work stoppage began Friday afternoon and resulted in the postponement of 13 league games scheduled for Friday, December 26.
According to the PHPA, several key issues remain unresolved. The union is seeking a weekly team salary cap of $19,500 for the 2025–26 season, which would average roughly $975 per player per week. Players are also calling for changes related to travel and safety, including a league-wide holiday break from December 24 through 26 and limits on travel for back-to-back games. In addition, the PHPA is seeking guaranteed contracts and offseason health benefits.
The ECHL has disputed the union’s position, stating it issued what it called a “last, best, and final offer” on December 25. The league says that proposal includes a 19.8 percent increase in the salary cap. League officials have also warned that revenue lost from postponed or canceled games could negatively affect future proposals.
While games involving the Fuel and other ECHL teams remain uncertain, some league owners are exploring the use of replacement players to keep the season moving.
Fort Wayne Komets management has confirmed the team is already contacting and evaluating potential replacement players, likely from the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) or the Federal Prospects Hockey League. Some teams are reportedly hoping to ice replacement rosters as early as New Year’s Eve in an effort to minimize financial losses.
League rules require teams to dress a minimum of 13 skaters and two goaltenders to play a scheduled game. If either team in a matchup cannot meet that threshold, the game will be postponed.
Team owners have acknowledged that the use of replacement players could cause long-term damage to relationships with current PHPA-contracted players.
As of this writing Saturday, the ECHL has not announced whether Saturday’s game at Wheeling or Sunday’s Indy Fuel home game in Fishers will be played as scheduled or postponed.