That’s up from the 10 percent rate both sides had agreed upon in late January shortly after the season began.

The change comes as a result of lower than originally projected NHL revenues for the lockout-shortened season.

That means players, as of this week, will fork over 20 percent of every paycheck into an escrow fund until both the league and NHLPA figure out the final numbers next summer or next fall in terms of hockey-related revenue.

If players’ compensation does not go higher than their 50 percent HRR allotment for the season, they will be refunded the escrow payments with interest.

However, if the players’ compensation exceeds the 50 percent share, the owners will be paid the escrow money.

The NHLPA has another option if its executive board wishes to dip into the $300 million “make whole” fund, which owners are paying out to players as per the new CBA over the next three years.

The players negotiated the make whole fund as a protection against high escrow eroding their salaries.

Normally in an 82-game season, the two sides review the escrow rate each quarter. But with the shortened, 48-game season, both sides agreed before the season to review revenues and revenue projections throughout the season to determine whether the escrow percentage coming off player checks needs to be changed.

Most years, the players get some of the escrow money back, and sometimes all of it. Here’s how the escrow worked out once the final HRR numbers were finalized each season:

2005-06: The net result was that each player earned 104.64 percent of his 2005-06 contract (includes the shortfall and interest). Players’ share was 54 percent of HRR.

2006-07: The net result was that each player earned 97.51 percent of his 2006-07 contract. Players’ share was 55.6 percent of HRR.

2007-08: The net result was that each player earned 100.66 percent of his 2007-08 contract. Players’ share was 56.7 percent of HRR.

2008-09: The net result was that each player earned 87.12 percent of his 2008-09 contract. Players’ share was 56.73 percent of HRR.

2009-10: The net result was that each player earned 90.59 percent of his 2009-10 contract. Players’ share was 57 percent of HRR.

2010-11: The net result was that each player earned 97.7 percent of his 2010-11 contract. Players’ share was 57 percent of HRR.

2011-12: The net result was that each player earned 99.48 percent of his 2011-12 contract. They got back just under 8 percent of the 8.5 percent they paid in escrow during the year. Players’ share was 57 percent of HRR.

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After a 36-hour vote that ended Saturday morning, the players’ association announced that its members approved the deal reached with the league last week.

It would be an understatement to say lot has happened since we last saw the NHL in action, when the Los Angeles Kings raised their first franchise Stanley Cup, writes Scott Burnside. Blog

However, the sides continued to work to complete a difficult memorandum of understanding that must be signed before camps can open and the new schedule to be released.

The NHL and NHLPA still “hope” to finish the memorandum Saturday night and keep training camps on schedule for a Sunday opening, but there is no guarantee.

Until then, hockey can’t get back to regular business.

The league’s board of governors unanimously ratified the contract on Wednesday. The plan was for training camps to open on Sunday, assuming the memorandum of understanding was finished. Voluntary physicals and medical exams were permitted to begin on Friday.

The players’ vote wasn’t unanimous, as a source told ESPN that 667 players voted “yes,” while 12 voted “no.” The players saw an 89 percent turnout in voting.

The remaining transition rules, such as when players can go on the ice and for how long, were still being finalized.

“While the players’ vote ratifies the new CBA with the NHL owners, a written memorandum of understanding consistent with what the players voted on, must be completed before the agreement becomes final,” a union statement said Saturday.

Less than a week after the league and the union worked all night to secure an agreement to save the season, players followed team owners and approved the tentative deal that was reached last Sunday — the 113th day of the lockout.

Unofficial team workouts have been taking place around the league all week. A 48-game season is expected to begin Jan. 19 without any preseason games in advance, assuming there are no more glitches in negotiations.

A total of 510 games, the Winter Classic and the All-Star Game were all casualties of the four-month lockout that began Sept. 16. The regular season was supposed to open on Oct. 11.

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After a round of small-group meetings Wednesday morning — held mainly to discuss pension issues — the union returned to league offices shortly before 3 p.m. ET to deliver its latest proposal. It was the fourth proposal made between the two sides in the past six days.

The meeting, which included several players, lasted approximately one hour.

The two sides expect to reconvene Wednesday evening, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said. According to a source, the next meeting is set tentatively for 8 p.m. ET.

Fehr declined to comment on whether the NHLPA will file a disclaimer of interest, which would dissolve the union, although the executive board will hold a conference call on the matter at some point Wednesday night.

The players have until midnight Wednesday to decide whether to dissolve the NHLPA, thereby nullifying its right to collectively bargain as a union.

With little details emerging from the information exchange between the sides, the NHLPA’s decision will provide the best glimpse at where negotiations stand.

A vote to disclaim interest would have a significant impact on negotiations — possibly derailing them altogether — and would be a sign the two sides are not as close as many had hoped.

Should it let the deadline pass, it is possible the union believes it can reach a deal.

The league already has canceled all games through Jan. 14, and the deadline to salvage the season is looming. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said a deal would need to be reached by Jan. 11 in order for a 48-game season to be possible.

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