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A class action lawsuit launched against the Canadian Hockey League alleges its players are underpaid and seeks millions in financial compensation.The suit claims players have been paid less than the minimum wage required by law in their regions and asks for $180 million in back wages, overtime and vacation pay, as well as punitive damages.The CHL is the umbrella organization for the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It touts itself as the top development league for the NHL.There are 60 teams in the CHL stretching from Victoria to Halifax as well as eight teams based in the United States. More than 1,300 players ranging from age 16 to 20 play in the CHLs leagues, which comprise both privately owned and community-owned clubs. Teams such as the Calgary Hitmen and Edmonton Oil Kings are owned by the NHL team in their respective cities.The lawsuit is the latest labour shot across the major junior hockeys bow. An attempt to unionize major junior players stalled in 2012, but Canadas largest private sector union Unifor expressed interest in July in representing the players in the future.A statement of claim filed last Friday in Ontario court alleges that if players want to participate in these leagues, they must sign contracts paying them a weekly fee between $35 and $125 per week with no set hourly wage, overtime, vacation or holiday pay.The lawsuit cites OHL players as examples, saying they devote 35 to 40 hours to a team and receive $50 a week on average.None of the allegations have been proven in court.The crux of the lawsuit isnt whether the players are professional or amateur, but whether they are employees of their teams or independent contractors.The big question is whether the players are employees within the meaning of minimum-age legislation across the country versus an independent contractor, said Toronto lawyer Ted Charney, who is representing the players. If the judge hearing the class action decides theyre employees, in my opinion, there is a breach of legislation across the country.CHL commissioner David Branch counters the players are neither employees nor independent contractors.Theyre amateur student-athletes, Branch said in an interview Monday. Well certainly vigorously defend ourselves because this could not only in our view have a negative effect on hockey in Canada, but through all sports in which amateur student-athletes are involved.Charney disagrees with the Branchs description of the players.Its hardly an amateur league, Charney said. The league is in the business of making profits, which they do, significant profits off the services provided by the players who get basically zilch in terms of services.Normally an amateur athlete plays a sport for a university or a school and they have amateur standing and the school or university doesnt compensate them for their services. Here theyre actually getting a fee. The problem with the fee is its not minimum wage.Branch says the CHL paid out more than $6 million in post-secondary scholarships to 579 players last season.We have an education program unmatched in amateur sport, he said. We believe its the best scholarship program in North America. Weve invested for the player in extensive health and safety programs, anti-doping and drug education.We are into developing and executing a mental health program in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association to support our players. In addition to that while playing in our league, all their expenses are covered — equipment, billeting, travel costs and so forth.Former OHL player Sam Berg is the one named plaintiff in the suit. The son of former Toronto Maple Leaf Bill Berg says the OHLs Niagara IceDogs breached the player agreement he signed in August 2013.Berg played eight games for the IceDogs. He was sent to a Junior B team in October 2013, was injured and quit hockey. Now a university student, Berg contends he is owed both back pay as well as a the post-secondary scholarship as set out in the contract.Charney encouraged current and former players to register on a website to be part of the class action, but acknowledged current players may be afraid to do so.At the moment, current players have been very hesitant to come forward because they feel it will impact their ability to play on their team and their relationship with the league and their potential to be drafted into the professional hockey leagues, he said. Theyve been very reluctant to come forward as the lead plaintiffs in this class action.We anticipate now that the case has started, some of the players will register with us and give us their information which we will keep confidential.Its very hard to participate in a lawsuit against your employer while youre still working for them. Thats an element of this case that will be a challenge, but the way it works in class actions is everybody who is in the class action gets the benefit of the result unless they opt out of the class action.Branch would not address the impact on CHL teams if they were required to pay players minimum wage.I wouldnt even want to comment in that area, he said. Discount Air Jordan . Pominville scored in all three of Minnesotas games last week to help the Wild (8-4-3, 19 points) earn four out of a possible six points. His best performance was in a 4-3 win over Montreal on Friday, where he posted a season-high three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal. Wholesale Air Jordan . JOHNS, N. https://www.fakejordanwholesale.com/ . Millsap will miss Wednesday nights game against the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks say Millsap also will be held out on Thursday at Boston. Air Jordan Black Friday . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday. Fake Retro Air Jordan . - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has an agreement to bring back outside linebacker Parys Haralson on a one-year deal.CINCINNATI - Canadian Milos Raonic is leaving Cincinnati empty-handed after falling to Roger Federer in the semifinal of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday. But hes choosing to view his loss to the No. 3-ranked player in the world as a learning experience. "Everything is a lesson," Raonic said following his 6-2, 6-3 loss to the Swiss star. "I just couldnt play the way I wanted to." Raonic, the fifth seed from Thornhill, Ont., barely had room to break in the opening set, which Federer won thanks to four love service games, and the five-time winner made a strong statement. "In the second (set) I started getting rhythm, but I didnt win a point on his serve in the first set," Raonic said. "I served poorly the whole time, Ive had trouble with my serve all week. I need to fix it but its something I think we can easily do." Earlier Saturday, Canadian Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock set up a rematch of their winning Wimbledon final as they stretched their unbeaten streak to 14 doubles matches. The unseeded pairing beat the French team of Julien Benneteau and Eduardo Roger Vasselin 7-6 (5), 3-6, 10-6 and next face top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan after the Americans defeated compatriots Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-7 (5), 10-8. Federer left Raonic with a 0-6 record in their series as the Canadian lost to the 33-year-old for the second time this season. Raonic now stands 34-12 in 2014 as he heads to New York for final practice before the Aug. 25 start off the U.ddddddddddddS. Open. The 23-year-old, who won his sixth title last month in Washington, has not won a set against Federer since a tournament in Halle, Germany in 2012. "Im doing things right and winning matches, but I need to step up against the top guys," Raonic said. Pospisil and Sock will bid for a third title after also winning in Atlanta last month. "This win gives us a lot of confidence," said Pospisil, a Vancouver native. "They go into the match the favourites, we have nothing to lose. "Well give it our best shot. It was great to put ourselves in this situation again." The two have not been beaten since first teaming up at Wimbledon. Their win in the quarter-finals topped the previous unbeaten streak of 12 set by Paul Annacone and Christo van Rensburg in 1984-85. Pospisil and Sock advanced in just over 90 minutes, saving seven of the eight break points they faced and breaking the Frenchman twice. In the third set, a match tiebreak, Pospisil unleashed a reflex volley to yield three match points for his team. Pospisil and Sock advanced on their second chance with a Sock service winner. "A 14-0 start is incredible, we certainly were not expecting it," said Pospisil. "Weve been playing well and today was another tough battle. Jack did a great job of raising the team spirit. I was a little flat sometimes. I was tired and lost a bit of concentration. We played great when we had to, were thrilled to be in another final." ' ' '