CHL players serve notice...

[OldTimeHockey]

Can you smell what Laraque is cooking?

I think what they are fighting for is right but they are going about it in a very sloppy and sometimes bizarre manner.

Some interesting points in this piece about it:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/2012/10/26/chl_chlpa_legal_action_lawsuit_threat_patrick_king/

Hockeycentral interviewed Laraque on Friday and it was just really really strange how he would talk around simple questions about what their structure was, why they won't provide the CHL clear and concise information about who they are beyond just him. 

He did not deny and provided no explanation as to why they had anonymous "first name only" people visiting players, asking them to sign on in support.  The fact that half the players in the league aren't 18 yet means they likely can't even be signing things like this without parental support. 

I can see David Branch's point when he says "I don't know who they are" when he is asked if he will be meeting with them.

It's just weird.

Yeah that is the propaganda about it.  Every report I read uses language of how the CHLPA is mysterious and they are acting bizarrely.  Lets remember business owners advertise in the media, players don't.  So I raked that up to the media looking after where there bread is buttered.  Why does the players association have to disclose to the CHL. When the CHL owners like most business owners keeps two sets of books and only release the numbers that suite their purposes.

Isn't it funny that some people think the NHL is completely up front about earnings?

[Nik]

Yeah that is the propaganda about it.  Every report I read uses language of how the CHLPA is mysterious and they are acting bizarrely.  Lets remember business owners advertise in the media, players don't.  So I raked that up to the media looking after where there bread is buttered.  Why does the players association have to disclose to the CHL. When the CHL owners like most business owners keeps two sets of books and only release the numbers that suite their purposes.

They do have to establish some sort of legitimacy though. A good union is one that's transparent about who they're representing and what authority they have to do so.

[MBC]

If the CHLPA is successful, I wonder if there will be similar impact to the Junior A and/or B leagues across Canada. 

[Corn Flake]

Yeah that is the propaganda about it.  Every report I read uses language of how the CHLPA is mysterious and they are acting bizarrely.  Lets remember business owners advertise in the media, players don't.  So I raked that up to the media looking after where there bread is buttered.  Why does the players association have to disclose to the CHL. When the CHL owners like most business owners keeps two sets of books and only release the numbers that suite their purposes.

They do have to establish some sort of legitimacy though. A good union is one that's transparent about who they're representing and what authority they have to do so.

And as of right now it is the CHL teams who are responsible for the safety and well being of these kids and help ensure they don't get hosed by some two-bit organization who are not run very well and are not doing much of a job to prove they aren't up to no good.  The teams and Branch have every right to be skeptical.

I know if it was my kid being approached by Laraque and his first-name-only pals, telling them to sign on the dotted line with very little explanation, structure or purpose defined, I would be telling my son to stay the hell away until they explain themselves and the team says they are ok.

If the CHLPA wanted to seem legit, they should be saying who they are, have a well-defined charter, clearly identifying who the people are in the organization and what they do, and be engaging parents as much as the players.

[Nik]

If the CHLPA wanted to seem legit, they should be saying who they are, have a well-defined charter, clearly identifying who the people are in the organization and what they do, and be engaging parents as much as the players.

I agree completely. I think there's a good argument to be made for a hypothetical CHLPA but the actual nuts and bolts of what's going on with the "organization" Laraques claims to be fronting strikes me as pretty fishy.

[Nik]

If the CHLPA is successful, I wonder if there will be similar impact to the Junior A and/or B leagues across Canada.

I can't claim to be any sort of expert regarding junior hockey at any level but I do think it kind of strikes at something that I've heard people with expertise talk about. I think there's a genuine public interest in having hockey that's being played by kids not be a for-profit industry and if that's an end result I think it'd be largely beneficial to the game.

[Corn Flake]

If the CHLPA wanted to seem legit, they should be saying who they are, have a well-defined charter, clearly identifying who the people are in the organization and what they do, and be engaging parents as much as the players.

I agree completely. I think there's a good argument to be made for a hypothetical CHLPA but the actual nuts and bolts of what's going on with the "organization" Laraques claims to be fronting strikes me as pretty fishy.

And with all due respect to Laraque, it's not as though he has experience in setting up organizations, or any kind of qualifications to suggest he can get it done.  His heart is probably in the right place but his ability to execute this is going to be limited to what others around him can provide.   I kind of get the sense that there are others involved who may not have the same pure motives as Georges does.

He said himself the only reason he is running it is because he was willing to do it for free. 

[Corn Flake]

This CHLPA thing is shaping up to be about as shady as a $3 bill.

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip796819#clip796819

[Rebel_1812]

I have seen nothing fishy about what they have done.  That is a smear campaign but the CHL owners that want to continue paying the players peanuts.

[Corn Flake]

I have seen nothing fishy about what they have done.  That is a smear campaign but the CHL owners that want to continue paying the players peanuts.

Oh give me a break.

Did you not see the video? 

If that doesn't spark some questions, then listening to Laraque himself sure does to me:

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FanAudioOnDemand/~3/ytZ6FuBwuHA/Georges-Laraque-with-Daren-Millard,-Scott-Morrison-and-Ric-Nattress-hc-20121026-Interview.mp3

[Corn Flake]

Someone or two someones are pulling the wool over Laraque's eyes here.  This guy is a pawn in someone's elaborate game:

@L_A_theRiver Georges Laraque says that if Randy Gumbley is actually involved in #CHLPA, he'll give his resignation.

@L_A_theRiver  Laraque says it's Randy Gumbley's brother who "is helping out #CHLPA", not Randy to his knowledge.

@L_A_theRiver Again, Laraque says he'll resign if Randy Gumbley is involved in any way with CHLPA.

Some more info on this:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/juniorhockey/article/1280977--who-is-derek-clarke-canadian-hockey-league-players-association-spokesperson

I can see where one might think this is the CHL trying to undermine this PA but where there is smoke there is likely fire and the teams have to protect these kids they are responsible for. 

[Justin]

This still-developing story just keeps on getting more and more bizarre. Dave Naylor is metting with the alleged Darek Clarke tonight and is convinced the three phone conversations he's had with Clarke prior to tonight's interview with with 2 different people claiming to be him. Not only that, but the P.I the CHL hired to investigation Clarke has found NOTHING on him, as if he doesn't exist. My goodness.

[Corn Flake]

Laraque stepping down:

http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=408661

Two of the law groups who were helping have withdrawn their support.  Shawn Desmond has withdrawn his dispute that he should be paid by the CHL.  What a disaster this thing was.

Even more crazytown time:

http://watch.tsn.ca/draftcentre-2012/clip797583#clip797583

*splat*

[Nik]

Like I said, it's a good idea in theory but without actual support from a wide majority of players it's largely meaningless.

[Justin]

Laraque stepping down:

http://www.tsn.ca/chl/story/?id=408661

Two of the law groups who were helping have withdrawn their support.  Shawn Desmond has withdrawn his dispute that he should be paid by the CHL.  What a disaster this thing was.

Even more crazytown time:

http://watch.tsn.ca/draftcentre-2012/clip797583#clip797583

*splat*

That was quick.

The first mistake they made was hiring Laraque as their head. He's nothing but a publicity hound with no justified experience to take on such a job.