Legal complaint alleges hockey leagues treated players like 'disposable objects'

File: A hockey player stickhandles a puck. (Photo by Ron Lach via Pexels)

A class-action suit was filed Wednesday in federal court in New York arguing that the major junior hockey system in North America violates U.S. antitrust law.

The lawsuit, brought by divisions of the World Association of Icehockey Players Unions and two individual former major junior players, takes aim at the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey that make up the Canadian Hockey League, as well as the NHL. The plaintiffs allege the leagues exploit teenagers in the sport by restricting their ability to pick where to play and, as a result, limiting their compensation.

It alleges players are subject to systemic abuses, including the artificial reduction of compensation and conducting involuntary drafts, where a team can obtain an athlete's exclusive major junior rights without the presence of a collective bargaining agreement.

The plaintiffs allege the system is "a cartel (that) artificially suppresses and standardizes compensation by denying players their freedom of choice, freedom of movement and freedom to play for the club of their choice."

The Canadian Hockey League and its three major junior circuits — the Western Hockey League, Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League — are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The NHL is also named as a "co-conspirator." The lawsuit alleges the NHL colludes with major junior leagues to prevent its players from finding employment in minor professional leagues like the American Hockey League or the ECHL, while those circuits actively recruit under-20 players from Europe.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to enforce the geographical draft restrictions, contracts and agreements in place, along with damages for players for compensation and from league profits. Plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial.

The allegations have not been tested in court.

The CHL said in a statement it had only been made aware of the complaint Wednesday, adding the World Association of Ice Hockey Players Unions has not been certified to represent any of the players in its leagues.

"Until we can thoroughly review the document, we are unable to provide comment as to the legitimacy of its contents," the statement read.

Eight of the CHL's 60 teams are based in the U.S. — five in Washington state, two in Michigan and one in Pennsylvania.

The lawsuit alleges the three major junior league maintain a system that gives a league exclusive rights to recruit within a geographic territory, eliminating competition between the leagues despite being independent entities under the CHL umbrella.

The competition among clubs is further reduced by the way leagues handle their entry drafts, the lawsuit claims.

"In an involuntary draft, players may be drafted even if they did not apply to participate in the draft, with the end result being that the drafting club will enjoy the exclusive rights to that player for the entirety of his major junior hockey career," the lawsuit states.

The lack of bargaining power for major junior players allows clubs, many of which are financially successful, to artificially reduce compensation, the lawsuit alleges.

The two former major junior players part of the suit are Isaiah DiLaura and Tanner Gould. DiLaura, 23, is from Lakeville, Minn., and Gould, 19, is from Calgary.

"Teenage players continue to be treated like disposable objects, just like I was," DiLaura said in a news release. "I am hoping this lawsuit will put an end to that."

A $30-million settlement between the CHL, its leagues and players seeking back pay for minimum wage was reached in Canada in 2020. But judges in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta refused to sign off on the agreement.

The judges objected to wording in the settlement they said was too broad and could prevent the players from pressing other legitimate claims.

— With files from The Associated Press.