Hockey NL president Jack Lee refusing to address conflict allegations
Hockey NL president Jack Lee is refusing to address serious allegations that he is in a conflict of interest, and that he has shown favouritism towards young players involved with his private hockey development program.
Lee spoke briefly with the CBC on Tuesday, but refused any official comment.
Glenn Gumbley, founder of the Canadian Hockey League Players' Association, has publicly called for Lee's removal as president of Hockey NL.
The association is attempting to represent junior players in the Canadian Hockey League, which is comprised of the Quebec, Ontario and Western hockey leagues.
Dozens of complaints
In an interview Monday with the CBC's Central Morning Show, Gumbley said he's been contacted by "numerous" hockey parents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"When I say numerous I'm talking several dozen different parents expressing their concerns and we looked into it," Gumbley said.
"We're not here to take grievances about ice time — whether or not little Johnny got enough ice time. The complaints we got were aimed at Jack Lee and conflict of interests that he's involved with."
Lee is involved with Blizzard Hockey, a high profile private development program.
Gumbley claims this puts Lee in a conflict of interest because he also serves as president of Hockey NL, the umbrella group for minor, female, junior and senior hockey in the province.
Gumbley also published letters on his association's website, alleging that players enrolled with Lee's Blizzard program receive preferential treatment during selection to elite teams.
But Lee appears unwilling to address the allegations, and the issue did not make waves at Hockey NL's annual meeting in Gander this past weekend.
Lee is now entering the second year of a two-year term as president, a position he has held since 2011.
Gumbley released emails he sent to Lee calling for his resignation on Friday, ahead Hockey NL's meeting.
Conflict of interest
Gumbley said that by running the Blizzard Hockey organization, Lee is in conflict with International Ice Hockey Federation (IIAF) and Hockey Canada by-laws.
Gumbley said that Lee has purchased a major midget team, the St. John's Privateers, and is renaming it after his Blizzard Hockey program.
"The main issue at this point is he's promoting, he's endorsing his own private organization by renaming the Privateers the Blizzard at this point," said Gumbley.
"When you have the president of a hockey organization who is also running a for-profit hockey organization you can't help but really take a look at what's going on and what are the possible conflicts."