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US: Illinois Hockey group accused in antitrust suit

By  |  February 24, 2019

An Illinois youth hockey club claims in a federal lawsuit that a state affiliate of USA Hockey is intentionally limiting the number of clubs allowed to join its ranks in an attempt to maintain control of the top-tier amateur hockey market.

Reapers Hockey Association, one of the largest youth hockey clubs in Illinois, filed a lawsuit Thursday, February 21, in Chicago federal court alleging USA Hockey affiliate Amateur Hockey Association Illinois, or AHAI, has violated antitrust laws and is controlling the amateur hockey market through its “corrupted” and “boy’s club” leadership.

According to the 43-page complaint, AHAI and its board of directors are only serving the interests of the four hockey clubs currently chartered by the organization. Those four clubs—Team Illinois Hockey Club, Chicago Mission AAA Hockey Club, Chicago Fury, and Chicago Young Americans—are also defendants in the suit.

Full Content: Court House News

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