Please see the attached letter sent to all the GTHL Member Clubs in response to the GTHL Court Claim filed last January 12th, 2026 and subsequent article in the TSN and CTV News website.
Please view the original document here.
FULL TEXT below:
Dear GTHL Member Clubs
Re: Greater Toronto Hockey League - Court Claim
We are working with Flavio Battiston of Battiston & Associates representing the Vaughan Rangers, Vaughan Panthers, Markham Majors, and Markham Islanders (Member Clubs), who have been unjustly targeted by an entirely meritless lawsuit that was filed by the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on January 12, 2026. The claim alleges fraud and other serious misconduct in relation to “undisclosed Premiums for GTHL Game Ice,” which the Member Clubs unequivocally deny.
Despite this, the false allegations have understandably caused concern and distress across the hockey community, prompting numerous questions from member club organizations, families, and players. Likewise, the Member Clubs are deeply troubled by the claim and believe that transparency is essential to maintaining trust with the communities they serve – a trust that the GTHL recklessly seeks to destroy.
The Member Clubs have been attempting since September 2024 to resolve the dispute concerning the ice fees. This process has unfortunately been lengthy and marred by institutional bias and procedural unfairness to the fullest extent. The parties have exceeded over $250,000 in legal costs to date which far exceeds the amounts in dispute. Now that the resolution of this dispute has shifted from the non-transparent process previously governed by GTHL to the court system, the Member Clubs believe that a fair and impartial outcome will be achieved.
The Member Clubs believe this dispute raises broader issues affecting the hockey community at large, namely GTHL’s insistence on maintaining unfettered and unchallenged control over its members, to the detriment of transparency and accountability that families and clubs are entitled to expect. The timing and nature of this claim suggest it is being used as a retaliatory measure and scare tactic against the growing, good-faith efforts of clubs and families to ensure fair governance and restore balance to a system where the GTHL’s authority has become disproportionate. This is particularly true when considering the GTHL’s spending practices, its lack of independence of its committees, and the use of member funds to finance prolonged legal proceedings.
On the merits, there is no basis for the allegations made by the GTHL regarding the administrative fees, which have long been known and agreed to by all parties. The GTHL’s claim asserts extremely serious allegations of fraud by the Member Clubs. Such spurious claims carry significant legal and reputational consequences, which the Member Clubs intend to fully defend against. One example of the false accusations in GTHL’s court claim is the assertion that “only the [Member Clubs] and the municipalities had access to ice rates charged to the Clubs by the municipalities.”
In fact, all fees charged by the city/municipalities to the Member Clubs are publicly available at the following sites:
https://www.vaughan.ca/explore-vaughan/facilities-rentals
www.markham.ca/sites/default/files/Schedule%20of%20Fees%202025-2026%20-%20Final.pdf
To suggest that these rates have been secretive and undisclosed is foolish and misrepresents the facts. Throughout this dispute, the GTHL has employed tactics of bullying and gamesmanship, seemingly intended to increase the costs incurred by the Member Clubs in defending against these allegations. The Member Clubs incur operational and administrative costs to provide and regulate the game ice to the GTHL and the administrative fees charged to the GTHL of 5% are a modest recovery against these costs. The claim is vindictive and excessive.
These fees are materially different from the Player Registration Fees (PRFs) required by GTHL from all participants. The PRFs were initially meant to cover game ice costs as a replacement to gate fees. The PRFs are now utilized to operate the league’s programs - with significant sums being applied to salaries, legal fees, and other expenses. While the average cost of ice for the GTHL has increased by approximately 30% over the past decade, the average family PRFs has risen by approximately 95% over the same period, imposing a significant financial burden on families. In addition to the PRFs, the GTHL also markups its insurance costs by about 40% on top of the Hockey Canada annual rate per participant, referencing them as “assessment fees.” In reality, the GTHL’s regulation is heavy-handed, making it more difficult and costly for families to participate in the sport.
Looking ahead, the Member Clubs will respond to the court claim. They want the hockey community at large to know that they are fully engaged and committed to vigorously defending themselves. The Member Clubs also recognize the frustration and worry experienced by families when they first learned of these allegations. The unfounded claims unfairly cast the Member Clubs in a negative light. Despite these challenges, the Member Clubs remain dedicated to preserving the trust, dignity and honour of their respective programs. The Member Clubs remain committed to ensuring hockey remains inclusive, fair, and accessible to all who wish to play.
Sincerely,
ROUSSEAU MAZZUCA
Michael Mazzuca