It’s that time again when we take a look at what’s been happening in hockey’s business and legal world. Once a week 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
NHL Interest in Houston
With all of the talk recently of NHL expansion in Utah and Georgia, businessman Tilman Feritta has reportedly expressed interest in bringing an NHL team to Houston, Texas. While Feritta doesn’t want to be the main guy but just part of the investment group, the sense is that Houston would be behind Salt Lake City and Atlanta in the line of expansion cities. With that said, keep an eye on this one.
Expansion is the desired route. But from what I've been told, they're currently behind Utah & Atlanta. My understanding (as of now) is Feritta wants to be part of an NHL ownership group in Houston, not necessarily the main guy. The NHL would love being in the market, one day. https://t.co/e3MY7wfNrf
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 5, 2024
Minor Hockey Coach Files Defamation Suit
Following a previously filed abuse lawsuit, a minor hockey coach in the London, Ontario area filed a defamation lawsuit against the parent who filed such original suit. The parent alleged that the coach physically and verbally abused said parent’s child. That original suit also named Hockey Canada and the specific hockey association as defendants. While abuse has become a more exposed issue in hockey, this is a potential case where it can be a two-way street.
A minor hockey coach in the London area has filed a $1.29M defamation lawsuit against a hockey parent who alleged several months ago that the coach threatened and “physically battered” his child during a practice.
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) March 5, 2024
“This is a case about an out-of-control hockey parent who openly…
New Jersey Devils Allegedly Forced Mackenzie Blackwood to Play Injured
Former New Jersey Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood alleged that while playing for the Devils, they forced him to play even though he believed he was too hurt. He claimed he never fully healed. Then when the Devils asked him to play, the injuries kept compiling. This is one side to the story but it’s hard to imagine that this doesn’t happen more than we are really aware.
"I thought I wasn't ready, but they thought it was fine."#SJSharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood revealed that the #NJDevils asked him to play despite not feeling 100% comfortable dealing with his major ankle injury. Read on @TheHockeyNews.⤵️https://t.co/3Poc61pRZg
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) March 5, 2024
2018 WJC Sexual Assault Pre-Trial Begins
Lawyers for the five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Championship team charged with sexual assault appeared (virtually) in court on March 5. They will attend a privately held pre-trial conference on April 3 to begin organizing and establishing pre-trial motions, potential witnesses and such. No date has yet been set for the trial but that should be decided in the near future.
Lawyers for the five former 2018 World Juniors hockey players charged with sexual assault appeared virtually in London court this morning.
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) March 5, 2024
On Apr. 3, they are scheduled to attend a judicial pre-trial conference. This meeting will be held in chambers (privately) with the judge and…
OHL Concludes Investigation into Bounty Allegations
In a previous hockey’s business and legal updates, we discussed that the OHL was investigating an alleged “bounty” incident. Certain statements came out following a Sudbury Wolves – Barrie Colts game that indicated that various Wolves players had put a bounty on a Colts player. The OHL concluded its investigation. It concluded that Wolves players Nathan Villeneuve and Evan Konyen violated the OHL Social Media Policy. It assessed a 15 game suspension to Villeneuve and a 10 game suspension to Konyen.
The OHL has concluded an investigation into conduct by members of the Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club.
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 6, 2024
📰: https://t.co/ixuY0g3fWF pic.twitter.com/uCSJ1VVMcZ
NHL Renews Partnership with Caesars Sportsbook
The NHL and Caesars Entertainment renewed a multi-year North American partnership for Caesars to be a Sports Betting and Gaming Partner of the NHL. This provides Caesars Digital with access to NHL-owned intellectual property to build and promote NHL-branded iCasino games for its online casino platforms in North America for the first time. It also provides special promotional and marketing opportunities for Caesars with additional membership perks tied to the NHL.
Caesars Sportsbook and National Hockey League renew partnership. https://t.co/BGWVWnWO0s pic.twitter.com/ljfg3y0UMT
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 7, 2024
Updates On Carolina’s Search for an AHL Team
Previously, reports indicated that the Carolina Hurricanes made a pitch to purchase an AHL team or pay for a new one to increase the AHL team number to 33. Their pitch was reportedly in the $6 to $7 million range. This is less than the last two or three AHL teams purchased which came in at or over $10 million. At the time, the AHL seems to have little interest in expanding to 33 teams but if the NHL expands, the AHL may follow.
New reports indicate that first, Carolina’s discounted offer was met with rejection. But also that Carolina has interest in looking at Baltimore as a potential place for a new AHL team. As we have previously discussed, NHL teams sometimes own AHL teams or they partner with independently owned ones. Its advantageous to own an AHL team as it provides control and stability. But time will tell for Carolina who currently has no AHL team affiliation.
Details emerge on Carolina's attempt to purchase an AHL expansion franchise!
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) March 7, 2024
Where do #Canes/AHL-Chicago stand?
'State of the League' updates from AHL President/CEO Scott Howson
Could Kevin Durant & Pharrell bring AHL back to Baltimore? @InsideAHLHockey https://t.co/Jz5934RfB4
Anaheim Ducks and Van Collaboration
In one of this period’s more “fun” stories, the Anaheim Ducks have partnered with Vans to come out with a 30th anniversary limited edition shoe line. This is the first time that Vans has partnered with a professional sports team. The collaboration known as Vans X Ducks is a series of three different shoes. Ducks forward Frank Vatrano had a big hand in this collaboration as well. As we previously explored, hockey players have relatively short playing careers and many find themselves involved with other ventures and passions. This appears to be something Vatrano may continue to explore.
In non-trade news, the Ducks and Vans have collaborated on a limited edition shoe line for the team’s 30th anniversary that will drop Sunday.
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) March 7, 2024
Here’s a look at how it all came together & the role that Frank Vatrano, among others, played in the process. https://t.co/8SeLCl08EI
Hockey’s Business and Legal Updates Featured Story: San Jose Sharks Sports and Entertainment Covered Up Child Sexual Abuse
In this period’s hockey’s business and legal updates featured story, Sharks Sports and Entertainment allegedly covered up a Jr. Sharks coach sexually abusing minor players. These allegations coming in the form of a lawsuit against SSE provide that Kevin Whitmer, a former San Jose Jr. Sharks hockey coach, inappropriately touched players under the guise of medical evaluations, asked for photos of kids’ bodies and took them to the locker room alone in April 2021 at the Sharks Ice skating rink.
In addition to seeking punitive damages from Whitmer, the lawsuit goes further to provide that SSE covered up the incidents as they had information they withheld from parents of Sharks players that could have prevented the incidents. In addition, SSE management ignored an employee in charge of the locker room when she raised concerns about Whitmer. She was also terminated shortly after doing so. SSE is the parent company of the San Jose Sharks in the NHL.
A recently filed lawsuit claims Sharks Sports & Entertainment covered up a Jr. Sharks coach’s alleged grooming and sexual abuse of child hockey players. https://t.co/joGHFyun93
— San José Spotlight (@SJSpotlight) March 8, 2024
Post image attribution: By: Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons