Buffalo, New York: The most beautiful beaches – The NCAA has been accused of boycotting Canadian Hockey League players from Division I competition in a class-action lawsuit filed this week. If successful, that suit could end the longstanding ban on players considered professional in college hockey.
The implications of the lawsuit could be far-reaching. If successful, it could increase competition for college-age talent between North America’s two largest NHL player producers. And there is the potential that the CHL’s three leagues – Ontario, Quebec Major Junior and Western Hockey League – could create a talent drain that could lose players to colleges at the prime junior age of 18.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, New York, on behalf of Rylan Masterson of the New York law firm Freedman Normand Friedland. Masterson, of Fort Erie, Ontario, lost his college eligibility two years ago when he appeared in two tryouts for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires at age 16.
The three CHL associations are classified as professional leagues under the NCAA statutes and their players are therefore excluded from competition.
CHL players receive a stipend of no more than $600 per month for living expenses, which is not considered income for tax purposes. College players receive scholarships and can now earn money through advertising and other use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).
The lawsuit lists 10 Division 1 schools, including the three closest to Fort Erie: Canisius, Niagara and Rochester Institute of Technology. Other schools named include Boston University, Boston College, Denver, Quinnipiac, Notre Dame, Stonehill and St. Thomas. They were chosen to show that they follow NCAA bylaws and exclude current or former CHL players.
The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Atlantic Hockey commissioner Michelle Morgan, whose league represents the three western New York state schools, declined to comment and told the Associated Press she was seeking more information. CHL spokesman Christopher Seguin declined to comment.
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The lawsuit cites newspaper articles alleging that the NCAA maintained its boycott by forcing players as young as 16 to make decisions about their future, thereby preventing them from joining the CHL. Another concern is that the NCAA’s bylaws undermine player compensation by preventing competition between the CHL and the NCAA for top talent.
The lawsuit suggests that lifting the ban would likely result in CHL teams increasing compensation for their players in order to keep them in the company.
The lawsuit points out that NCAA bylaws allow professional participation, with the exception of men’s ice hockey and skiing, and points out that players who have competed professionally in Europe are not subject to the same restrictions. It cites the example of Boston University’s Tom Willander, who appeared in two games in the Swedish elite league last year.
The lawsuit argues that Masterson and the class action plaintiffs “suffered harm of the kind that the antitrust laws were designed to prevent” and that the NCAA’s conduct was “unlawful.”
The attorneys are asking a judge to certify the members of the class, which would include anyone who has played in the CHL or for a Division I school since August 12, 2020.
Many in college hockey circles believed such legal action was inevitable, especially after the NCAA concluded, during a review of its bylaws in 2023, that its rule excluding CHL players was legally challengeable.
According to the lawsuit, NCAA hockey coaches decided in May not to vote on keeping the bylaws in place, but instead formed a committee to monitor possible legal challenges.
Lightning start of the sales process
The Tampa Bay Lightning have initiated a multi-stage sale process that will value the team at nearly $2 billion, according to Sportsnet analyst Elliotte Friedman.
Current owner Jeff Vinik will retain full operational control of the company for the next few years. As part of the new group, he will continue to own a significant stake.
Vinik bought the Lightning in 2010 for a reported $170 million and led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.
This deal surpasses Ottawa’s $950 million sale to Michael Andlauer and is the largest in NHL history.
Team USA 7, Switzerland 0
Michigan State commit Jack Hextall had an assist and was plus-1 in the U.S. team’s 7-0 win over Switzerland in the Five Nations U17 Tournament on Friday in Piestany, Slovakia.
Hextall, a right-handed center who scored 88 points in 64 games with the Chicago Mission last year, will play for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League this year.
Royal Oak’s Nick Bogas was plus-1 with two shots in 20:54 of ice time. He is a left-handed defenseman who scored 39 points in 64 games with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies last year.
The USA (2-0) will face the Czech Republic (2-0) on Saturday.
