It's being called a major victory for major Junior Hockey players and a potential blow for franchises like the Victoria Royals. In a court ruling released Friday and obtained by TSN, an Alberta Court of Queen's Bench judge has ordered the CHL to produce all of its contracts that funnel revenue to teams in the Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.
All of the teams in the WHL and OHL have also been ordered to produce their tax returns and financial statements for the past five years. The ruling comes two years after a group of former major junior players sued the leagues, arguing CHL franchises are making millions of dollars. Besides a payout for themselves, the former players want the leagues to be forced to pay current players at least minimum wage.