TORONTO/NEW YORK (September 14, 2012) – Don Zavelo, National Hockey League Players’ Association General Counsel, released the following statement regarding this evening’s decision of the Commission des Relations du Travail (Quebec Labour Board):

 “We are pleased with the ruling that the Commission released tonight. While the Commission denied the players’ request for emergency relief, it also rejected the NHL’s request to dismiss the case.  The ruling acknowledges that the players have raised issues about the legality of the NHL’s planned lockout that require a full hearing on the merits.

 We remain confident that the lockout is prohibited by the Quebec Labour Code and look forward to presenting our case to the Commission in the near future. Should the NHL carry out its threat to lock out the players in Quebec, it will do so at its own risk.”