The CHL has been sued via a class action lawsuit. The suit alleges that the CHL players are underpaid.
The Canadian Press -- A class action lawsuit has been launched against the Canadian Hockey League seeking financial compensation for allegedly underpaid players.
The suit claims the players are paid less than the minimum wage in their regions and that they should also get holiday, overtime and vacation pay.
The lawsuit alleges the average OHL player devotes 35 to 40 hours per week to his team and receives $50 a week.
Toronto lawyer Ted Charney says the lawsuit seeks to hold the CHL and its teams accountable.
The Toronto Star has more on this subject. Of course the CHL President, David Branch is going to defense the way the CHL does business.
Robert Cribb, the Star -- An unprecedented class action lawsuit striking at the economic foundations of junior hockey in Canada alleges the Canadian Hockey League and its teams “conspired” to force young players into signing contracts that breach minimum wage laws.
A statement of claim filed in a Toronto court Friday and obtained by the Star, seeks $180 million in outstanding wages, vacation, holiday and overtime pay and employer payroll contributions for thousands of young players given as little as $35 a week for practices, games, training and travelling that could add up to more than full-time hours.
The league and its teams “conspired and agreed together . . . to act in concert to demand or require that all players sign a contract which the defendants knew was unlawful,” the claim alleges. “Such conduct was high-handed, outrageous, reckless, wanton, deliberate, callous, disgraceful, wilful and in complete disregard for the rights of the (players).”
It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
