Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Hockey father threatens second lawsuit
Associated Press
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick -- The family of the 16-year-old
boy suing the New Brunswick Amateur Hockey Association over not
winning the MVP award has been suspended from the league.
Michael Croteau and his son, Steven, will meet with a lawyer to
discuss their situation.
The boy was suspended by the provincial amateur hockey
association. There was no comment Tuesday from the New Brunswick
Amateur Hockey Association.
"He is suing because his rights have been infringed by this
association and because of that, they kick (him) out? That's not
right,'' said Euclid LeBouthillier, Michael Croteau's lawyer.
"A hockey player must play. The worst thing you can do to a
hockey player is to suspend him from the league for the rest of the
term,'' he said.
Michael Croteau said he is ready, if necessary, to launch a
second lawsuit to have his son's suspension overturned.
"My son is fed up and I am fed up,'' Croteau said. "All we
wanted was a clarification about how these decisions were made. How
come they can't answer my questions?''
Croteau is seeking $300,000 in psychological and punitive
damages from the association. He claims that his son was robbed by
the association of two awards he should have won: the league's most
valuable player award and the top playmaker award.
Croteau, who plays for the Acadian Peninsula AAA team, led the
bantam league last season with 45 goals and 42 assists in 27 games.
The league MVP, Lucas Martin who plays for Moncton, had 21 goals
and 39 assists, fourth in the league.
Croteau also wants his son to be guaranteed a spot on the New
Brunswick Canada Winter Games roster.
"My son is a hero,'' he said.
