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The economic hierarchy of hockey is in some turmoil, and games played in courts and meeting rooms could impact those played on the major junior, world championship and Olympic ice.

The issue they have in common is one of player as commodity. It will be addressed in Canada and the United States this week, and the results should be fascinating.

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On Tuesday in Toronto, a law firm will seek to certify a suit against the Ontario Hockey League’s member clubs as a class action. The firm is suing to establish the designation of player as employee, along with a salary of $10,000 per year and retroactive pay for juniors who, according to the suit, have been paid a meagre stipend between $40 and $60 per week. The Canadian Hockey League and OHL argue that players are amateur student athletes, not employees.

The lawyers representing 400 junior players who have joined the suit feel it’s unfair that some OHL and WHL teams can pocket hundreds of thousands or millions in profit while handing out crumbs to the talent that drives ticket sales. A similar class action certification hearing was held before a judge in Calgary recently. There has not been a ruling yet.