Apr. 28, 2005. 01:41 PM
NHLPA moves to block replacements

CANADIAN PRESS

The NHL Players’ Association has applied for union certification in Quebec and British Columbia, a move intended to block the potential use of replacement players in those provinces.

The NHLPA is seeking to establish the association in Quebec and B.C. as a legal entity with rights similar to those of trade unions. It’s a significant move to prevent the NHL from using replacements. Both Quebec and B.C. don’t allow the use of replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, but only when the workers being replaced belong to certified unions.

If the NHLPA is certified as a union in those provinces, the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens would not be allowed to hire replacements. Legal experts say the two teams could not simply play elsewhere while the lockout continues because they would be slapped with unfair labour charges.

The NHLPA announced the move in a two-sentence statement, declining further comment.

“We will not be commenting further while the administrative processes are underway,” NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said.

The NHL has said the use of replacement players was an option but not a preferred course of action.

Recent talk has suggested the league was losing interest in the use of replacements, due to legal ramifications and whether they would be accepted by fans.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...id=968332188492

This was also expected to be a problem when the MBA used replacement players in 1994/95 (or whenever it was) because of labour laws in Ontario (Blue Jays) and Quebec (Expos). In that case, replacement players never made it out of spring training as the players and owners were able to settle things before the start of the season.

lol even if by any miracle there was a game with replacement players, i would never in my life go to watch a sub-par level hockey game.

Bettman has now said that he will not start the league in 05/06 with replacement players.