Canadian hockey player launches class-action lawsuit against NCAA

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TJ Tucker
August 14, 2024 (10:16 PM)

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Rylan Masterson, who plays hockey with the Fort Eerie Otters, is suing the NCAA and 10 universities in the US alleging they are violating anti-trust laws

A class action lawsuit has been launched by a young Canadian hockey player who claims the NCAA is violating anti-trust laws by stopping anyone who has played for a major junior team from entering the US college hockey system. Rylan Masterson is inviting others who believe they were impacted by these rules to join him in the suit.

Back in 2022, Masterson played two exhibition games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Those two games cost him is eligibility to play NCAAhockey , as per NCAA rules.

"Plaintiff Rylan Masterson is a resident and citizen of Fort Erie, Ontario. In 2022, when he was sixteen years old, he played two exhibition games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Canadian Hockey League ("CHL») and, as a result of the illegal conspiracy in violation of the U.S. antitrust laws alleged herein, lost his eligibility to play Division I hockey for any institution that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA"). Plaintiff, individually and on behalf of a class of hockey players (defined below), brings this action against the NCAA, Canisius University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Boston College, Boston
University, University of Denver, Quinnipiac University, University of Notre Dame du Lac, Stonehill College, and University of St. Thomas."

As explained by Rick Westhead of TSN, the NCAA conducted a review of its bylaws in 2023, and told Division I coaches they could opt out of the "boycott" if they wanted. However, that required enough coaches to vote in favour of ending the ban, and that didn't happen.

"The lawsuit also pointed out instances where pro athletes have competed in NCAA sports. Boston University's Tom Willander played pro hockey in Sweden before enrolling in the NCAA school, the lawsuit said, adding tennis players can make as much as $10K per year without losing NCAA eligibility. Other athletes such as swimmers Katie Ledecky and Joseph Schooling received $115K and $740K respectively for their athletic achievements yet retained NCAA eligibility, the lawsuit said."

A defense has not yet been filed, and there's no word on when a trial, which Masterson is asking to have heard by a jury, will take place. These rules regarding NCAA eligibility have been in place for some time, and are well-known throughout the hockey community. That doesn't necessarily make them ok. If Masterson and his lawyer can prove the NCAA has violated anti-trust laws, major changes could come about.