hockey's business and legal updates

Hockey’s Business and Legal Updates January 1 through 15 Including International Hockey Shakeup

Alec Roberson

t’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

Hires Involving Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment

There have been some updates involving individuals with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. First, Canada Soccer reached an agreement with former Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment executive Alyson Walker as its new general secretary. She will start on January 22 in this role. Notably, this is the top staff position with Canada Soccer.

While the MLSE lost Walker, they announced a new hire. PGA European Tour CEO Keith Pelley will step in as their next CEO. The organization has been without a CEO since 2022. Pelley brings with him experience in leadership roles with both Rogers Sportsnet and TSN.

The Carolina Hurricanes Make Hockey Business Moves with Legal Implications

The Carolina Hurricanes made a series of moves to enhance their hockey business side with legal implications.

Hurricanes Purchase Backyard Bistro

For starters, they purchased a neighboring long time restaurant Backyard Bistro. This will continue to serve as a restaurant but also as a potential sports booking site.

Fanatics Partnership

Additionally, the Hurricanes announced a partnership with Fanatics as its official sports betting partner. As we previously discussed in a hockey’s business and legal updates article, the Hurricanes seem to be jumping at the opportunity to take advantage of North Carolina legalizing sports betting in 2024.

Jersey Sponsor

Lastly, the Hurricanes announced a partnership with Nucor to be its official jersey sponsor for the season. Considering that Nucor is a local company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the partnership seems to be a good fit.

Audio Recording Can’t Be Used for Discipline

In a matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild, Wild forward Ryan Hartman reportedly told Cole Perfetti at a faceoff that he was going to high stick him as retribution for an earlier incident involving Brenden Dillon and Kirill Kaprizov. Not an unusual situation really. But during this incident Perfetti was mic’d up. Supposedly the mic caught Hartman’s statement. But in the NHL’s agreement with the NHLPA to allow them to mic up players, these types of actions cannot be used as evidence for disciplinary actions. Therefore, Hartman was simply assessed a fine for a high stick.

Court Rules in Favor of Players Suing the City of Pittsburgh

In 2019, many professional athletes including NHLers Kyle Palmieri and Scott Wilson, along with the NHLPA, sued the city of Pittsburgh alleging its jock tax was unconstitutional. The argument was that since 2005 the city has levied a 3% earned income tax on visiting pro athletes while taxing all other residents a 1% income tax. While a court ruled the tax was unconstitutional, the city then appealed. However, an appeals court has now ruled in favor of the plaintiffs (players) in this action.

PWHL Files New Trademarks

One of the interesting stories coming out of the PWHL’s inaugural season involves one of its rule changes. On the penalty kill, if the shorthanded team scores, the power play ends. This is known as the “jailbreak.” While this is an on-ice update, the PWHL has reportedly filed to trademark PWHL JAILBREAK, JAILBREAK, and Jailbreak Goal on January 6.

Interesting Use of Hockey Footage

Researchers in Pakistan are working to use video to detect violence outbreaks earlier. In the process of developing this research, they utilized over 1,000 videos of NHL footage including over 500 of fights to help develop the software.

NHLPA and the Mental Health Commission of Canada Create Mental Health Initiative

The NHLPA in combination with the Mental Health Commission of Canada has developed an initiative called “First Line” to help players with mental issues and depression. While this seems very important, it is a first of its kind initiative in professional sports. This program will assist players and their families with mental issues and struggles. In addition to other items, this program includes providing resources, education and support. So far, the initiative has been provided to 20 NHL players.

NHL and Tylenol Announce Canadian Partnership

The NHL and Tylenol announced that they reached an agreement for a Canadian partnership. The new partnership provides Tylenol with various exclusive marketing rights and designations to connect the brand with the NHL and its fans. Even though this is a hockey business move, any partnership and licensing agreement has legal implications for both sides.

Chicago Blackhawks Seek to Dismiss Negligence Lawsuit

Following the Kyle Beach sexual abuse allegations against the Chicago Blackhawks, another former player stepped forward alleging similar abuse. However, the Blackhawks have now asked a court to dismiss that player’s negligence suit. The Blackhawks allege that the claim was not timely. Shockingly, the player told then-team mental skills coach Jim Gary about his issues with Aldrich and Gary told him he “should move on with his life.” The Blackhawks allege that if Gary did say that those comments were “insensitive and inappropriate,” but “do not constitute extreme and outrageous conduct.” The judge’s decision in this will be interesting.

Hockey’s Business and Legal Updates Featured Story: Russia, Israel and the International Hockey Setting

In multiple moves over this period of hockey’s business and legal updates, various Russian parties have sought appeals and changes to various rules and related policies towards Russian involvement in international hockey.

Ivan Fedotov and CSKA File Appeals

First, both Russian goaltender Ivan Fedotov and CSKA of the KHL filed appeals with the Court of Arbitration of Sport. These appeals concern the IIHF’s decision to impose sanctions on both following their violation of Fedotov’s contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. There has been a lot happening with this. So, if you are not familiar with the story check out our previous hockey’s business and legal updates articles on the Fedotov situation here.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is an independent international governing body responsible for settling disputes involving international sports matters. It was established in 1984. As a neutral party, Lausanne, Switzerland is its headquarters. While participants can appeal decisions of the CAS, appeals are rarely successful.

Russian Olympic Participation

Additionally, the CAS will hear the Russian Olympic Committee’s appeal against the International Olympic Committee for participation in the Olympics on January 26, 2024.

The IIHF Suspends Israel

In addition, the IIHF decided to suspend Israel from international participation due to the events in Gaza. The IIHF will meet in February to assess this situation.

While Israel isn’t exactly a major player in hockey, the NHL reportedly has concerns over this IIHF decision.

Post image attribution: Knospins04, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alec Roberson

Alec Roberson grew up in coastal North Carolina, taking a somewhat unconventional path to hockey. With hockey being almost nonexistent in that area, Alec found his passion for the game following the success of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2001 and 2006 and later played club hockey in college. After going through law school and practicing for some time, he now continues his love for the game through writing. Find him on twitter @roberson_alec

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