It’s that time of the month when we take a look at what’s been happening in hockey’s business and legal world. Twice a month we cover the big and not so big stories in this arena. We also include a featured story of the period. Let’s take a look at what has been happening this period.
Hockey’s Business and Legal News
Proposed Plan for CHL Hazing Lawsuit to Move Forward
The attorneys for the former players pursuing a hazing, bullying, and abuse lawsuit against the CHL, OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and those leagues’ teams have outlined a proposed plan for players looking to join in the lawsuit. Notably, any players not sharing their stories to the public and wanting to pursue a case must be assured that their identities will be kept confidential. This lawsuit was denied certification as a class action previously. However, players still have a chance to pursue remedies and the court will set hearings to determine procedurally how this will proceed.
.@rwesthead: Proposed plan to advance CHL abuse lawsuit unveiled by plaintiffs.
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 29, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/LM5AdVQhon pic.twitter.com/5pPKplyb1U
The Winnipeg Ice Have a New Owner
The WHL’s Winnipeg Ice have been sold to David White and will be relocated to Wenatchee, Washington. White is the President of the Shoot the Puck Foundation which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping grow hockey and the current owner of the Wenatchee Wild in the BCHL. The relocation comes after multiple attempts failed to construct a suitable arena in Winnipeg to house the Ice based on agreed upon deadlines. Much like other leagues (including the NHL), when there is a sale and a relocation, the Board of Governors approval is required. The WHL Board of Governors have approved this transaction and the new team will begin play next season.
The WHL announced today that the Winnipeg ICE franchise has been sold and relocated to Wenatchee, Washington, and will operate under the new ownership of David White of the California-based Shoot the Puck Foundation.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 16, 2023
DETAILS | https://t.co/2qbWpLU3Sp pic.twitter.com/Qfhv8NNlW0
NHL to Disallow Specialty Jerseys in Warmups
Following a year of controversy involving various players around the league declining to wear team-initiated pride jerseys in warmups, and various teams responding by nixing that practice completely, the NHL’s Board of Governors decided to disallow specialty jerseys in warmups. In addition to pride jerseys, teams have worn various warmup jerseys including military appreciation, hockey fights cancer, holiday and other throwback jerseys. While the teams will still hold special nights to raise money and awareness for causes, the players will not wear jerseys in warmups. The reasoning here is that the NHL felt last season it became a distraction. However, the quick decision to just cut the practice was met with a lot of criticism. It’s a case of trying to protect the brand, but the NHL might could have figured out a better solution.
From NHL Board of Governors: teams will not wear specialty jerseys in warmups next season. Also: Cap, Ottawa, Arizona and other topics. With Commissioner Gary Bettman here — https://t.co/7kBduYBk1X
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 22, 2023
Qatar Investment Authority Buying a Minority Stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is reportedly seeking to buy a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Monumenetal). Monumental is the parent company of the Washington Capitals but also owns the Washington Wizards in the NBA and the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. The interest is reportedly around a five percent interest being acquired. The company is valued around four billion dollars.
The QIA is an investment fund owned by the government of Qatar. This is the first time that Qatar has invested in a U.S. sports team and the first time that a Sovreign wealth fund has invested in an NBA or NHL team. Notably, part of Qatar’s global diplomatic strategy is investment in sports and entertainment. For example, the QIA already owns a European soccer club and Qatar hosted the most recent World Cup. As is the case with investments in NHL and NBA teams, the Board of Governers have to approve such investments. The NHL has approved this investment while the NBA still has to approve.
Sources: The Qatar Investment Authority is buying a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment for a deal valued at $4.05B.
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) June 22, 2023
That deal makes them the first sovereign wealth fund to invest in a major US sports team.
(via @TheAthletic)
Initiatives to Make the Game More Inclusive, Diverse and Safe
There have been two separate announcements during this period related to diversity, inclusion and safety of the sport. The first came from Hockey Canada. Hockey Canada announced that it will be hosting a convention aiming at understanding the areas of hockey that need to change. This summit, named the Beyond the Boards Summit, will take place in Calgary, Alberta on September 8 and 9, 2023. The summit will include subject matter experts and provide opportunities for collaboration and conversation to discuss areas in the sport that need adjusting, and how to do so.
This fall, leaders inside and outside the game will gather in Calgary for the first Beyond the Boards Summit.
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) June 26, 2023
Cet automne, les chefs de file du hockey et d’ailleurs se réuniront à Calgary pour le premier sommet Au-delà des bandes.
FRANÇAIS : https://t.co/q3cxOiw0o6
The second initiative is the NHL and NHLPA launching the Player Inclusion Coalition. The NHL three years ago announced the development of the Player Inclusion Committee to combat racism and increase inclusion in the sport. This Coalition is an evolution of that Committee. The Coalition is a group of both former and current NHL and women’s pro hockey players working to advance inclusion on and off the ice. Namely, the group is led by former NHL players Anson Carter and P.K. Subban. This announcement also includes that one million dollars have been committed to programs that promote diversity in hockey.
The NHL and NHLPA launched a Player Inclusion Coalition that hopes to make hockey “more accessible, more inclusive, and more diverse,” through grassroots programs, education initiatives and more," the league announced Tuesday.
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) June 27, 2023
More from @hailey_salvian.https://t.co/UXE2kozHaH
Tennessee State University to Offer College Hockey
Tennessee State University will be the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to offer college hockey. The goal is to start at the club level for the 2024-25 season and then shift to NCAA Division One later. This was a similar path Arizona State and Penn State took. The NHL, NHL Players’ Association, Nashville Predators and College Hockey Inc., are all partners in this move as it shows another step towards diversity and inclusion in hockey. Creating a new sport is not easy and Tennessee State will now start the process of fundraising, finding coaches, recruiting players and so forth. They will play at one of the Predators’ Ford Ice Center facilities. And then whenever they jump to NCAA that’s another step, like what we saw with Long Island University.
Nevertheless, this is a big step forward for Tennessee State and hockey alike. Hockey is clearly growing in the southeastern United States with ACHA Club hockey continuing to progress to higher levels. For example, an outdoor game between NC State University and UNC Chapel Hill saw around 25,000 fans show up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Adding Tennessee State into the fold is a big move for many reasons.
Tennessee State University will become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to offer college hockey, per @ryan_s_clark. 👏 pic.twitter.com/uToeXzcwrz
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 28, 2023
Updates to the NHL Salary Cap
The NHL and NHLPA announced the salary cap limits for the 2023-24 season. The cap floor will be $61.7 million, the midpoint $72.6 million, and the ceiling $83.5 million. This came following reports of the same a few weeks ago. Players still owe escrow amounts still to the owners. But being they have almost fully paid this amount, we may see a bigger cap ceiling increase next year. But only time will tell.
The NHLPA and @NHL have announced team payroll range for the 2023-24 season: https://t.co/GCyoEjwAts
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 28, 2023
Harvard University Women’s Hockey to End “Harmful Traditions”
Following the announcement of the retirement of long time Harvard women’s ice hockey head coach Katey Stone, the university announced it will no longer allow certain traditions deemed abusive. This follows an independent investigation into the team’s culture and actions. Even though such report has not been made public, the results have prompted this action by the university. It’s unfortunate that it takes this much to make a team culture respectable. Also unfortunately, there are likely other teams and programs that could use some adjustments.
NEW: Harvard athletics to end traditions ‘harmful to team culture’ after women’s ice hockey investigation
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) June 28, 2023
Story w/ @hailey_salvian https://t.co/zStkJMm0fz
A New Singular Women’s Hockey League on the Horizon
In our featured story for the period, the Mark Walters Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises have purchased the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). The PHF is a women’s professional hockey league operating with seven teams. Meanwhile, these groups were responsible for financing the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) which has been looking at developing its own professional women’s hockey league that would rival the PHF. Now with this acquisition, there should be one professional women’s hockey league with PHF players needing to negotiate new contracts. That part of the acquisition has become a sticky subject.
There seems to be some difficulties to work out through this acquisition. Particularly, how the contracts of PHF players will be handled and what the new league does with current PHF teams. It may not be smooth, but this could be a positive step for women’s hockey as it looks to progress into what many are hoping it could be. As one league, ideally, they can use all resources to make it the best possible. It’s new ground though. The collective bargaining process and financing/sponsorship/exposure will be some other areas that will take work. Stay tuned as more details arise. This one is progressing quickly.
BREAKING: The Mark Walter Group has purchased the Premier Hockey Federation in a move that fundamentally alters the landscape of professional women's hockey. https://t.co/dtLlHyMyZ6
— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) June 30, 2023
Post image attribution: By BDZ Sports, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons