Report: Bernie Nicholls accuses NHL alumni head of 'screwing over' former players
Concussions are a major issue in sports. The discussion is turning nasty when it comes to the NHL's side of the issue.
In an article posted by TSN.ca, Bernie Nicholls, who played with multiple teams during his 17-year career with the league, accused NHL Alumni Association head Mark Napier of "screwing over" former players by refusing to share with association members the details of a concussion lawsuit filed against the NHL.
Napier "has got a really good job there, making a lot of money and he wants to do what's best for the NHL," Nicholls told TSN in a recent interview. "He wants to keep his job. He doesn't want to rock the boat with them, so he's going to probably side with them. In my opinion, he's screwing the players over [by] not supporting [the lawsuit.]"
Nicholls said many former players are interested in joining the suit, but are worried they will be blackballed by NHL teams and lose out on lucrative alumni opportunities if they choose to participate.
"Every team has alumni for the team who do a lot of stuff for them," Nicholls said. "They're afraid if they get involved with that [the lawsuit], they are going to get cut out of the team. I think we have a lot of guys on the fence right now."
Napier rejected Nicholls' criticisms in a statement emailed to TSN.
"The NHL Alumni Association works independently from the NHL and NHLPA representing alumni to the best of our abilities," Napier wrote. "[Nicholls'] outrageous statement that players would be blackballed if they joined the litigation is simply not true. If Bernie has proof or names of anyone, especially from our office, that he personally heard this from I certainly would like to know."
