TORONTO -- A group of amateur hockey players is taking the
NHL to court to determine whether somebody can play for the Stanley
Cup.
The 'Wednesday Nighters' filed a claim in Ontario Superior Court
on Wednesday asking it to clarify the terms under which Canadian
Governor-General Lord Stanley donated the Cup in 1892. The NHL
season was canceled in February amid a labor dispute.
"The fact that the NHL has suspended its play this year doesn't
mean that Canadians and others don't have the right to compete for
the Stanley Cup," said Tim Gilbert, the groups' lawyer.
Gilbert said Lord Stanley's intention when he donated the
Stanley Cup was to have teams compete for the trophy every year,
and a labor dispute shouldn't prevent that from happening.
He hopes the court will force Stanley Cup trustees Brian O'Neill
and Ian Morrison to find teams to compete for the Cup.
"We do not take this lightly," said Gard Shelley, an amateur
hockey player in his mid-50s. "The Stanley Cup is the greatest
sports trophy anywhere, ever. It is unique and a huge part of our
culture and heritage."
The 'Wednesday Nighters' initially offered to play for it
themselves -- white jerseys against black -- but eventually decided
that competitive teams should play for it. They don't even use
goalies in their league.
"This did start off as an amusing idea after Wednesday night
hockey one night," amateur David Burt said. "I'm frustrated as
most hockey fans are that the NHL and the NHLPA lost the season. I
don't know which side of that issue I'm on. I'm just frustrated
with the fact that there is no hockey being played. I don't think
that's what Lord Stanley intended. I think he had a higher purpose
for his donation."
Current Canadian Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson suggested in
February that if the NHL won't award the Stanley Cup this year,
then it should be the top prize in women's hockey.
O'Neill declined to comment Wednesday but said the claims would
be contested.
In February, O'Neill said there was no legal way the trophy
could be awarded for another competition under an agreement with
the NHL. He said it would only be possible if the NHL decided it
didn't want the Stanley Cup anymore, or if the league went out of
business.
The 'Wednesday Nighters' application is scheduled to be heard by
the court July 18 -- well after the Stanley Cup is usually awarded --
but Gilbert hopes to have the date moved up to sometime in May.
This could be just the second time the Stanley Cup isn't
awarded. The last was 1919, when a flu epidemic forced the finals
to be called off.