Abwesenheit » 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian

Government officials in Washington state, home to four Western Hockey League teams, have been investigating the working conditions of the teams mostly-teenaged players over the past year, TSN has learned. Matthew Erlich, a spokesman for Washingtons Department of Labor and Industry, told TSN that officials recently referred the case to the state attorney generals office and added that the labor department is waiting for a legal opinion from the attorney general before pursuing its investigation further. "This is a matter that focuses on child labor issues and potential wage-payment claims, both are important at labor and industries, where our top important goal is to ensure workplaces are safe," Erlich said. "Employees should also be paid for the work they do." Over the past few months, the debate over whether major junior hockey players should receive more money for playing has become a polarizing one. On one side, team owners say players receive modest reimbursements for their expenses, as well as a lucrative scholarship package that can be exercised so long as they dont go on to a career as a pro hockey player. Moreover, many teams in small markets are struggling to get by, the owners say. "Our teams in Washington and Michigan have been in contact with government officials and have explained that our players are student athletes and are participating in and contribute to their sport the same way as other amateur athletes," Canadian Hockey League commissioner David Branch told TSN. But officials with Unifor, Canadas largest private-sector union, paint a different picture. They say major junior hockey teams have become cash machines and that any problems that small market teams might have can easily be solved with revenue sharing. Unifor is pressing the Ontario provincial government to form task forces to scrutinize the working conditions in the Canadian Hockey League. Unifor president Jerry Dias hopes other governments follow suit. To that end, Dias met Tuesday with B.C. Premier Christy Clark, making his case for government action. "She was shocked," Dias said. "We explained that in the Western Hockey League, players are still making $50 a week, same as they did in the 1980s. Its just not right. These clubs are being run as for-profit businesses, and so little of the money finds its way to the players. Its basically slave labour." The stakes are high for CHL team owners. Dias said an average 40-hour work week adds up to about 2,000 hours a year. If players in Ontario were paid the minimum wage of $11 per hour for half the year, it would work out to about $11,000 per player, or at least $220,000 a year for each team. Its unclear how much teams now pay for players, but in recent years, the OHL paid players $55 a week. The league recently introduced new guidelines where teams reimburse players for expenses instead of paying them a set weekly amount. Eight of the CHLs 60 teams are based in the U.S. The four teams in Washington are the Everett Silvertips, the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Spokane Chiefs and the Tri-City Americans. In the OHL, the Plymouth Whalers and Saginaw Spirit are in Michigan. If players on U.S.-based teams were declared by the government to be employees, instead of student athletes, as the CHL says they are, they might also have more rights under worker compensation laws. One CHL team owner said that he has been in touch with his local member of provincial parliament to caution that if the governments do change their policies on major junior hockey, it might have a ripple effect on sports across the country. "If we have to pay minimum wage, then other junior leagues, Junior B and Junior C leagues, will have to do the same thing," said the owner, who asked for anonymity because he said CHL team owners have agreed that Branch will speak publicly for the group about the issue. "Maybe it will apply to Canadian universities that charge admission for sports games. It could have a huge effect." But that might not be completely true. Theres a difference between a Junior B hockey player or Canadian university player and a player in major junior - teams in major junior hold a draft and control for years the rights of a player. The players dont choose where to play. "It should not come as a surprise that team owners are active in their communities and some may be in contact with elected officials at all levels to express their views on range of issues," Branch said. "Any change to the status of CHL hockey players would undoubtedly impact all other amateur athletes in our country, regardless of what sport they participate in," he said. "For all of these sports there are multiple complicated questions regarding expenses and the status of student athletes and other amateur athletes, all of which have the potential to impact on numerous sports programs in Ontario and throughout Canada." Cheap Washington Redskins Gear . Louis Cardinals have agreed to a one-year contract. Custom Redskins Jerseys . Cleveland has won the first two of this set and has won six straight games since losing back-to-back tilts to open the year. Seattle, on the other hand, has now lost six in a row following consecutive wins to kick off its campaign. http://www.cheapredskins.com/ .com) - Novak Djokovic easily took care of Andy Murray to reach the final at the $2. Discount Washington Redskins Jerseys . The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018. Washington Redskins Jerseys Outlet . Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U.BERLIN -- Borussia Dortmund signed Serbian midfielder Milos Jojic and Werder Bremen presented attacking midfielder Ludovic Obraniak in the Bundesligas most eye-catching deals on Friday as the transfer window closed. Wolfsburg playmaker Diego completed his return to Atletico Madrid, where the Brazilian spent a successful loan season in 2011/12, for a reported fee of 1.5 million euros ($2 million). Diegos contract with Wolfsburg was to expire at the end of the season and the Volkswagen-backed club had already brought in a replacement in Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne. De Bruyne proved to be the biggest winter arrival to the Bundesliga following his switch from Chelsea for a fee reported to be around 20 million euros ($27 million). Dortmund reached agreement with Partizan Belgrade for a reported fee of around 2.2 million euros ($3 million) for the 21-year-old Jojic, who signed a contract through June 2018 with his new club. "We are very pleased to have signed such a versatile midfielder with enormous potential to complete our squad," Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said. Jojic had been the standout performer in the Serbian first division with six goals and seven assists in 15 games before the winter break. He also scored on his Serbia debut in a friendly against Japan in October, his only international appearance to date. Jojic provided Dortmund with another option following the season-ending injury to Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski and Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogans ongoing back problems. Bremens capture of Obraniak from Ligue 1 side Girondins Bordeaux came at the "right time," according to the player. "For me its a whole new step. Ive only played in France up to now," said the 29-year-old Obraniak, who signed through June 2016.dddddddddddd Obraniak previously played five seasons at Metz before switching to Lille in 2007. He helped Lille to the league and cup double in his first season and joined Bordeaux in January 2012. The French-born player has made 32 appearances for Poland. "I feel French but also have Polish blood. Its an honour to play for the Polish national team," Obraniak said at his Bremen presentation. Relegation-threatened Nuremberg signed Spanish youth international Jose Campana on loan from English Premier League club Crystal Palace with an option to buy at the end of the season. "He can play in many positions across midfield," Nuremberg chairman Martin Bader said of the 20-year-old former Sevilla player. The Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper reported that Hamburger SV had signed former Germany defender Patrick Owomoyela to the end of the season. The 34-year-old Owomoyela had been without a club since his Dortmund contract expired last summer. Croatian striker Srdjan Lakic returned to second-division Kaiserslautern on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, where he was on loan to the end of the season from Wolfsburg. Lakic previously played for Kaiserslautern between 2008-11. Hoffenheim also cut its wage bill, by letting Matthieu Delpierre go on a free transfer to Dutch side Utrecht. He was the fifth player to depart the club in January - the most for any German club. Altogether, the 18 Bundesliga clubs signed 33 new players in the winter transfer window, while 40 left. Germanys dpa news agency estimated that almost 40 million euros ($54 million) was spent, with around 13.5 million ($18.2 million) recouped through sales. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '