Paul Kelly (lawyer)

Paul V. Kelly (born ca. 1955) was executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) from October 24, 2007, to August 31, 2009, and former executive director of College Hockey, Inc.. Kelly is currently a partner in the Boston office of Jackson Lewis LLP and is their chair, of the White Collar & Government Enforcement practice group and co-chair of the Collegiate & Professional Sports Industry practice group.

Kelly is a prominent Massachusetts lawyer who founded the Boston-based law firm Kelly, Libby and Hoopes.

Kelly was the assistant United States attorney during the trial and investigation of then-NHLPA head Alan Eagleson over corruption and embezzlement. Eagleson eventually pleaded guilty to fraud in Boston and was imprisoned in Toronto.

In 2000, Kelly represented Marty McSorley during the latter's trial in Vancouver for on-ice assault with a hockey stick.

Kelly was appointed as executive director of the NHLPA, replacing Ted Saskin who had been ousted for secretly monitoring player e-mail accounts.

Kelly was strongly in favour of adding an NHL team in Canada.

On August 31, 2009, Kelly was unexpectedly fired as head of the National Hockey league Players' Association following several hours of meetings in Chicago. Russ Conway, the former Lawrence Eagle Tribune NHL and Boston Bruins sportswriter who had helped to expose Alan Eagleson's corrupt practices, described Kelly as the first "true, clean" leader the NHLPA ever had, and said "this is a very sad day for hockey. Unfortunately, the union continues to drink the Kool-Aid."

Some have speculated that Kelly was forced out in a power struggle. Ron Pink, the advisory board head, who had also applied for Kelly's position in 2007, and an ombudsman, Buzz Hargrove were also instrumental in the decision to dismiss Kelly.

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