The CHLPA story that TJHN broke just over two years ago, is not going away. The ripple effect that the mere attempt to form a players union for major junior players is continuing today.
The WHL has 4 teams in the State of Washington. It is Major Junior Hockey’s greatest foothold in the United States. Any blow to them would be felt throughout not only the WHL, but all of Major Junior Hockey.
State regulators acknowledged that all four teams are under investigation for violations of minimum wage laws. A spokesman for the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, said that a 2013 complaint to the department pointed to how much money the players were paid in relation to time worked.
The WHL did respond to the investigation with WHL Commissioner Ron Robinson issuing a statement defending the league structure:
“The Western Hockey League (WHL) Member Clubs in Washington are aware that the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has been taking a look at junior hockey with regard to the status of our amateur players. Our WHL Clubs in Washington have responded to the government, providing requested information and explaining that our players are student athletes playing in a developmental hockey league, and participating in and contributing to their sport the same way as other amateur athletes. We are advised by the Department that..no decision has been reached in the matter. Amateur hockey players have competed within the WHL in the State of Washington since 1977. The WHL certainly recognizes that undoubtedly any changes to the status of junior hockey players could impact the status of other amateur athletes in the state as well.”
While the CHLPA idea is still being hotly debated, throughout Canada and the United States, the awareness that just the idea of a players union has created has been enough to get this investigation started.
In the end, debate or discussion has often been found to bring about positive change and insight. Change in how Major Junior players are treated financially is seen by many to be long over due.
With State regulators admitting the complaint was filed in 2013, and the investigation continuing today, the old adage of “where there is smoke there is fire” may be seen to applicable. Investigations of this sort do not take a year or more to complete unless there are more questions than answers.
While there is no time table for its completion, this investigation will remain a hot topic in all of hockey until it is.
Joe Hughes
