Parents sue GTHL after sons cut by team

Flower · 06-29-2010, 03:02 PM

Parents sue GTHL after sons cut by team

Lois Kalchman
Special to the (Toronto) Star

Two sets of parents are suing the Greater Toronto Hockey League, one of its clubs and four coaches for $25,000 each because their sons were cut by the Avalanche Minor Sports Club midget junior A team during tryouts in April.

It’s the first time parents in the GTHL have ever taken legal action against the league or one of its teams for declining the services of their children, says league president John Gardner.

Even nationally, it’s a rare event.

“We have had very few lawsuits on ice time or (player) cuts,” said Hockey Canada's Glen McCurdie director of member services. “There are more threats than actual suits.”

Vito Valela and David Longo are both suing on behalf of their sons, Christopher and Daniel respectively. Besides the GTHL, Avalanche Minor Sports president Anthony Iantorno as well as team officials Doriano Pistarelli, Andy Vandenberk, Felice Guglielmi and Peter Posca are named as defendants in the action.

“Their direct actions have caused irreparable psychological damage to Daniel Longo’s self esteem as an impressionable teenager and demoralized Daniel as an athlete and team hockey player with his peers,” the Longo statement of claim reads. “The conduct by all defendants destroyed the dignity of my son, whom in good conscience gave his team nothing but his best efforts.”

Valela’s statement of claim states: “When Christopher was advised of his termination by my wife and I, he vowed never to play the game he loved since childhood. And, morevoer, his misguided group of defendants demoralized my wife and I, whom had gone well beyond the call of duty as parents in support of the Toronto Avalanche hockey team for two seasons.”

None of the claims have been proved in court.

Christopher has signed with Hillcrest Summits, the statement reads.

“Thank the good Lord that my son had the courage and strength to compose himself in his demoralized state,” reads the statement of claim.

A statement of defence from the defendants says more than 70 players tried out for the Avalanche Midget Jr. team.

“We were looking for 17 players. It was inevitable there were going to be players released. … All players attending try-outs from the Minor league level to the National League level (i.e. NHL and Canadian Olympic Team) realize that not making the team they are trying out for is a strong possibility and a lawsuit does not solve anything.”

Both teens had been with the Avalanche 2009-2010. Longo’s claim states that Daniel was never issued a permission to skate form — which allows a player to try out for another team — so he believed “Daniel was in fact on the team.”

Both complaints cite that coaches Guglielmi and Posca were suspended for a year by the GTHL for tampering on May 20, 2009 and therefore, the parents claim the men were not legitimately able to advertise themselves as coaches for 2010-2011 season, run the tryouts in April and ultimately cut their 15-year-old sons.

“They terminated my son and the GTHL supported that ‘illegal authority’,” Vito Valela told the Star.

“It wasn’t just that they (coaches) were under suspension,” Longo said. “It was the way they cut them and the method they used.”

However, GTHL executive director Scott Oakman confirmed although the coaches were under suspension, the rules permit any player or team official whose suspensions run past the conclusion of games played in a season to participate in tryouts .

“There is no indication they have violated any rules that I am aware of at this time,” Oakman said and added that neither parent has requested a hearing as required when players are aggrieved.

annie · 06-29-2010, 03:14 PM

This is unbelievable. Rejection is a part of life and the sooner the kids experience disappointment the better. Parents have to teach them to pick up the pieces and get back up on the horse. One of life's great lessons.

taha · 06-29-2010, 03:22 PM

My son would kick their ass !! BBBB HOOOO

taha · 06-29-2010, 03:26 PM

Everytime we have played Canadian teams at the AAA level they are fantastic, and the reason, they pick the best. Poor dada lost his pride and it spead to their poor pussseee kids.

Foxhound · 06-29-2010, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by annie

This is unbelievable. Rejection is a part of life and the sooner the kids experience disappointment the better. Parents have to teach them to pick up the pieces and get back up on the horse. One of life's great lessons.

I agree 100%. Parents coddle their kids these days instead of giving them the kick to the ass when needed.

Flower · 06-29-2010, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by annie

This is unbelievable. Rejection is a part of life and the sooner the kids experience disappointment the better. Parents have to teach them to pick up the pieces and get back up on the horse. One of life's great lessons.

I agree! Plus ....

1. I can't believe that any attorney would take this case.

2. I'm enraged that a case like this would make it to court.

3. If these people win, does that mean that everyone who tries out for a team has to make that team?

Will there be 300 people on a team if 300 people try out and then the ones who don't get to play in every game, have the right to sue because they didn't get enough time/at bats .. etc.?

taha · 06-29-2010, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Flower

3. If these people win, does that mean that everyone who tries out for a team has to make that team?

it will definetly set into motion more whiney parents and their reasons for law suits, BoyScouts are all ready under attack, lets add hockey, football, etc.

runtfan · 06-29-2010, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by annie

This is unbelievable. Rejection is a part of life and the sooner the kids experience disappointment the better. Parents have to teach them to pick up the pieces and get back up on the horse. One of life's great lessons.

Yep, this whole thing is ridiculous. These kids are being set up for crushing disappointment. Just wait 'til everyday life starts kicking them in the balls.

Foxhound · 06-29-2010, 10:28 PM

Those parents deserve to be lashed. They could not be doing a worse job for their kids.

annie · 06-29-2010, 11:45 PM

What's next? The GTHL will get sued by parents of players on a losing team for destroying their brats' self esteem? Worse than ridiculous.

ladyislingering · 06-29-2010, 11:54 PM

Oh, athletes. They never do get out of high school.

I'm pretty sure the coach had a reason. He didn't want any BS on his team.

A case like this is really stupid. What a waste of money.

taha · 06-30-2010, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by ladyislingering

I'm pretty sure the coach had a reason. He didn't want any BS on his team.

.

great point, I've seen kids not picked for the reason that the dad was a prick, coaches don't need the extra baggage

annie · 06-30-2010, 11:41 AM

Do these parents even know the meaning of the word "trying out"?????

Flower · 06-30-2010, 11:46 AM

You have to wonder about people like these parents .. will they be suing universities that don't accept their sons?

In turn, will these young men think that they have the right to sue companies that don't hire them?

Odysseus · 06-30-2010, 06:30 PM

Pure, unadultered, petty BS.

Damn, why are parents such mentally deficient, self centered douchebags. They shouldn't be allowed to breed.....