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A class action lawsuit launched against the Canadian Hockey League alleges its players are underpaid and seeks millions in financial compensation.The suit claims players have been paid less than the minimum wage required by law in their regions and asks for $180 million in back wages, overtime and vacation pay, as well as punitive damages.The CHL is the umbrella organization for the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It touts itself as the top development league for the NHL.There are 60 teams in the CHL stretching from Victoria to Halifax as well as eight teams based in the United States. More than 1,300 players ranging from age 16 to 20 play in the CHLs leagues, which comprise both privately owned and community-owned clubs. Teams such as the Calgary Hitmen and Edmonton Oil Kings are owned by the NHL team in their respective cities.The lawsuit is the latest labour shot across the major junior hockeys bow. An attempt to unionize major junior players stalled in 2012, but Canadas largest private sector union Unifor expressed interest in July in representing the players in the future.A statement of claim filed last Friday in Ontario court alleges that if players want to participate in these leagues, they must sign contracts paying them a weekly fee between $35 and $125 per week with no set hourly wage, overtime, vacation or holiday pay.The lawsuit cites OHL players as examples, saying they devote 35 to 40 hours to a team and receive $50 a week on average.None of the allegations have been proven in court.The crux of the lawsuit isnt whether the players are professional or amateur, but whether they are employees of their teams or independent contractors.The big question is whether the players are employees within the meaning of minimum-age legislation across the country versus an independent contractor, said Toronto lawyer Ted Charney, who is representing the players. If the judge hearing the class action decides theyre employees, in my opinion, there is a breach of legislation across the country.CHL commissioner David Branch counters the players are neither employees nor independent contractors.Theyre amateur student-athletes, Branch said in an interview Monday. Well certainly vigorously defend ourselves because this could not only in our view have a negative effect on hockey in Canada, but through all sports in which amateur student-athletes are involved.Charney disagrees with the Branchs description of the players.Its hardly an amateur league, Charney said. The league is in the business of making profits, which they do, significant profits off the services provided by the players who get basically zilch in terms of services.Normally an amateur athlete plays a sport for a university or a school and they have amateur standing and the school or university doesnt compensate them for their services. Here theyre actually getting a fee. The problem with the fee is its not minimum wage.Branch says the CHL paid out more than $6 million in post-secondary scholarships to 579 players last season.We have an education program unmatched in amateur sport, he said. We believe its the best scholarship program in North America. Weve invested for the player in extensive health and safety programs, anti-doping and drug education.We are into developing and executing a mental health program in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association to support our players. In addition to that while playing in our league, all their expenses are covered — equipment, billeting, travel costs and so forth.Former OHL player Sam Berg is the one named plaintiff in the suit. The son of former Toronto Maple Leaf Bill Berg says the OHLs Niagara IceDogs breached the player agreement he signed in August 2013.Berg played eight games for the IceDogs. He was sent to a Junior B team in October 2013, was injured and quit hockey. Now a university student, Berg contends he is owed both back pay as well as a the post-secondary scholarship as set out in the contract.Charney encouraged current and former players to register on a website to be part of the class action, but acknowledged current players may be afraid to do so.At the moment, current players have been very hesitant to come forward because they feel it will impact their ability to play on their team and their relationship with the league and their potential to be drafted into the professional hockey leagues, he said. Theyve been very reluctant to come forward as the lead plaintiffs in this class action.We anticipate now that the case has started, some of the players will register with us and give us their information which we will keep confidential.Its very hard to participate in a lawsuit against your employer while youre still working for them. Thats an element of this case that will be a challenge, but the way it works in class actions is everybody who is in the class action gets the benefit of the result unless they opt out of the class action.Branch would not address the impact on CHL teams if they were required to pay players minimum wage.I wouldnt even want to comment in that area, he said. Cheap Buffalo Bills Jerseys .com Tours season-opening Colombia Championship on Sunday, breaking the course record with an 8-under 63 in the completion of the third round before rain washed out play. Ed Oliver Jersey . New York (16-9-8) took over first place in the Eastern Conference and has the best record in the league with one game remaining. Houstons five-game unbeaten streak was snapped, and the Dynamo (13-11-9) are sixth in the East with one game remaining. http://www.cheapbillsjerseysauthentic.com/ . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? The Capitals were 5-4 winners in a shootout Oct. Cheap Bills Jerseys China . -- Omar Infante walked past the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, where he dressed so many times as a member of the Detroit Tigers, and slipped on a crisp, new Kansas City Royals jersey. Thurman Thomas Jersey . The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season. "Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray," said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them.Who is the best player in the CFL? If you asked that question on September 16th, 2012 you would have heard the name Brandon Whitaker multiple times over. That is the date of Whitakers last football game before tearing the ACL in his right knee. Nine months and 18 days later, Whitaker is slated to make his return to the Alouettes lineup as the starting running back versus Winnipeg. He just has to prove that he hasnt lost a step. Flashing back to the days after their mid-September game against Saskatchewan at Percival Molson Stadium, it was obvious the team was hurt by the loss of their most productive player. "You see a guy like Whitaker work so hard to wait for first turn and play so well for us, to end his year like this is devastating," Anthony Calvillo said two days after Whitakers injury. At the time of the injury, Whitaker took his situation in stride, focusing on his next chance. "Its frustrating, I just got to stay positive and get through the surgery, rehab and get ready for next year," Whitaker said. But was that next game even going to be with the Montreal Alouettes? Ideally, Whitaker was going to be showing off his speed, strength, agility and heart at NFL try-outs in January and February, but when Whitakers contract expired with the Alouettes after the season and he was without a home and options, he was in a tough spot. He watched the Als sign Jerome Messam in February and former NFL back Dominic Rhodes in March and draft Steven Lumbala from the University of Calgary in early May. Nott knowing the ultimate effect of Whitakers knee injury, Jim Popp had to make sure the Alouettes would be ready at the running back position.dddddddddddd The good news came on May 30th, only days before training camp opened when Whitaker signed a three-year deal with Montreal, but without the guarantee of the number one starting spot. Prior to the injury, however he was performing like the unquestioned number one, producing 631 yards rushing to go along with 49 catches, 516 yards receiving and nine total TDs in 10 games. Prorated over an 18-game season he would have had 1,147 yards rushing, 89 receptions, 938 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. His 2085 total yards of offence would have likely put him in the conversation with Torontos Chad Owens for the CFLs Most Outstanding Player award. To put Whitakers 10-game season in in perspective, the Lions Andrew Harris led the CFL in combined passing and rushing yards with 1,900. So if Whitaker can pick up where he left off, there is no doubt hell give Montreals offense a boost in yards, touchdowns and also pass protection. Calvillo has complete faith in Whitaker within the teams blocking scheme and hes a perfect outlet whenever hes in trouble, something that was missing in Week 1 against Winnipeg. Whitaker was slotted 29th in TSNs ranking of the top 50 CFL players heading into the 2013 season, but if he is the same Brandon Whitaker of the first half of the 2012 season for the remaining 17 games and playoffs in 2013, then you will likely see him in the top five in 2014. 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