TIEHL has filed a lawsuit against six former youth hockey
organizations who abruptly abandoned the league to form their own youth hockey
league (HPHL). The six members include Detroit’s Honeybaked, Little Caesar’s, and
Compuware, and the Chicago Mission, Chicago Young Americans and Team Illinois.
This was the press release from the Tier I Elite Hockey League on April 22.
PRESS
RELEASE
On April 22, 2011, the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, Inc.,
filed suit against six of its former Members who surreptitiously and abruptly
resigned March 17 from Tier 1 after organizing a competing hockey league.
Prior to March 17, these organizations, while allegedly acting in the best
interests of the Tier 1 Board of Governors and making decisions concerning the
Tier 1 league, were organizing a new league to directly compete with Tier 1.
The basis of the lawsuit is quite simple - a board member
owes a legal fiduciary duty to the organization and cannot have any undisclosed
conflicts of interest. These six Members never disclosed that they were
working for months to undermine Tier 1 and set up a competing league even while
serving on Tier 1's Board of Governors. They secretly organized the
competing league and then, after completing their improper work, announced
their resignations.
Because of their improper conduct, Tier 1 had no choice but
to file an action seeking to stop the new league and to stop these six
associations from being able to benefit from their wrongdoing. The action
filed in court seeks only to enjoin, or stop, the associations and the new
league from competing. The Tier 1 league is not seeking monetary damages.
Tier 1 Elite Hockey League is ready for the 2011-2012 season
with 19 organizations committed to compete at the midget level and additional
organizations are applying to become part of Tier 1. The boys (bantam
through squirt) and girls divisions also are ready to compete with multiple
committed organizations and additional organizations applying. The League
provides the highest level of competition in the United States for teams and
players from East to West and from North to South.
The number of organizations and national scope of the Tier 1
League provides the highest competition among the best players through Showcase
formats, ensuring national exposure while limiting travel costs and missed
school days, and avoiding expensive tournament fees.
The Tier 1 League is
excited to continue in its position as the national leader of youth ice hockey
development.
