Pay minimum wage but…


By
March 3, 2017

So, there are those who think players in the Ontario Hockey League should be paid minimum wage for their services.

The OHL, as it should, is defending legal challenges that are demanding a minimum wage stipend for the junior-aged players who form the rosters in the 20-team league.

If I am the OHL and its owners I would come back with something like this: “Okay, we will pay all of our players the minimum wage. But as minimum-wage employees they are responsible for paying their own room and board and their education costs.”

Yes, I am quite sure that most OHL teams make some sort of profit. But if teams are supposed to be run like a business should they not make a profit or at least break even?

Right now, the majority of OHL players are paid a nominal sum that does not equal the minimum page. But the catch is the players have absolutely no expenses with all of their living costs covered, not to mention the benefits from the standard education packages.

I am not going to delve into all of the details pertaining to the case for the players versus the OHL.

But to me, the OHL can fight fire with fire if it chooses.

Pay the players minimum wage. And from that, they are on their own.

Then see how well off the players are then as opposed to now.


What you think about “Pay minimum wage but…”

  1. I think it could be a good stepping stone just as the players getting to the next level of their hockey career or working after hockey to handle their finances before some of them who make it further on in hockey were wages are higher. But on the other hand i hope it would not cause the price of tickets to increase to see a game for fans.

  2. Very good analysis.. Also the players parents might have to come up with some extra cash also and some of them might not like that. Ron Sr.

  3. Canadian Hockey League doesn’t charge player fees like the outrageous rebel league GMHL. There are some good things that come out of the CHL, which is being decked out in sick gear and free stuff (ea-track suits, team apparel). $40/week with room and board covered ins’t a lot of dough, so maybe $100/week would be more like it.

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