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Several North American hockey leagues have been hit with a class action lawsuit over an alleged conspiracy to restrict opportunities for young and hopeful hockey players to be paid professionally. The proposed hockey conspiracy class action lawsuit is seeking $825 million.
“An Unlawful Conspiracy”
The class action lawsuit Canada reportedly claims the American Hockey League, ECHL, Hockey Canada, NHL, Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and WHL hockey leagues took part in “an unlawful conspiracy, arrangement or agreement” to restrict hockey players from earning a living wage by playing professional hockey from ages 18 to 20.
21-year-old plaintiff Kobe Mohr played in 265 games on four teams, the Edmonton Oil Kings, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, and Moose Jaw Warriors from 2015 to 2020 in the Western Hockey League. The complaint alleges that he should have been able to make it professionally and earn a living salary, but that was not the case.
The hockey leagues conspiracy class action lawsuit is alleging these hockey organizations have devised a system to restrict a majority of the players from ever being able to make it to the professional leagues. The alleged system is meant to keep young players making menial wages and allows the accused organizations to keep more money.
The Restricted Freedoms of Canadian Hockey Players
According to CBC News, Kobe’s lawyer, Felix-Antoine Michaud said that “this practice creates a system that imprisons young hockey players between 16 and 20. The player in Canada doesn’t have the same rights as a European player. A Canadian player doesn’t have the possibility to play in the American and East Coast leagues at 18 or 19 years old. A European player has the possibility to play in these leagues at 18 and 19.”
He added: “This arrangement is not legal under the competition act.”
The proposed North American hockey leagues class action lawsuit claims that Kobe and other players are not represented by associations nor are they able to assemble as a group to settle a collective wage agreement for themselves.
In Europe and Russia, young hockey hopefuls can be signed onto professional contracts or be assigned to junior teams.
The class action lawsuit Canada states: “Overall, Canadian-based players that are playing in major junior leagues have substantially less choices and freedom, if any, than European-based players, who have the opportunity to play in the AHL or ECHL before reaching the age of 20 and be paid a salary negotiated by a professional association,” reports KTW.
NHL teams allegedly pay bonuses to CHL clubs when their players are drafted. Kobe’s lawyer reportedly believes the players have little rights and they do not have a say in this agreement between associations.
The legal action launched by Kobe has yet to be certified in court. If certified, it will become a class action lawsuit and Class Members may join. No defence statements have been filed yet.
More Hockey Class Action Lawsuits
This is not the first class action lawsuit filed against the Northern American hockey leagues over the unfair treatment of players. Three other lawsuits have been filed over players being shorted in wages, which may pave the way for this new proposed legal action. The Canadian Hockey League settled three class action lawsuits that alleged players were being paid below minimum wage for their efforts. Certain hockey players reported making $35 a week for 40-65 hours of work. The minimum wage hockey class action lawsuit was seeking $180 million for wage back pay including holiday and vacation pay for the players. The settlements totaled $30 million in compensation.
In another hockey class action lawsuit, it was reported that teen players were being tormented with hazing and abuse and the Canadian Hockey League allegedly knew about the abuses but did not intervene. The bullying and abuse included underage players being degraded in the nude and struck with hockey sticks. Daniel, the plaintiff in the class action lawsuit Canada reported he “suffered violent hazing, physical and sexual assault and psychological trauma while playing major junior hockey.”
What do you think about the allegations against these major hockey leagues? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
Kobe and potential Class Members are represented by Felix-Antoine Michaud of Trivium Avocats.
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