The NHLPA is challenging the legality of a potential lockout in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Alberta, and on Friday the Quebec Labour Board announced that a full hearing must be held to determine whether the NHL will be allowed to lock its players out in Canada.
The NHLPA's argument is that the union isn't certified in those two provinces, making it impossible for the players to strike and thus impossible for them to be locked out. If the board sides with the NHLPA, the Montreal Canadiens will be forced to pay their players through the lockout. Of course, the NHLPA is hoping that such a ruling would prevent a league-wide lockout altogether.
The NHLPA is still pursuing a potentially similar ruling in Alberta, though there has been no word if they will also try the same tactic in provinces such as Ontario or Manitoba.
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