EVERETT — Former Everett Silvertips captain Zack Dailey has filed a lawsuit against the team over his Western Hockey League college scholarship.
In a suit filed in Snohomish County Superior Court and dated Feb. 11, Dailey’s lawyers accuse the Silvertips of breach of contract over failure to pay the full expenses of his college education. Dailey is a freshman at the University of Alberta, where he is playing for the men’s hockey team.
The WHL standard player agreement, which all players must sign to participate in the league, stipulates that teams will provide one year of college education expenses for each season spent with the team.
Dailey, who played five seasons for Everett from 2005-10 and served as the team’s captain his final two years, signed his player agreement with the Silvertips in August of 2005. Players must designate a college at the time of signing the player agreement and Dailey designated the University of Alberta.
At the time of signing, Dailey and his family resided in Edmonton, Alberta. Over the course of his five seasons with Everett, Dailey and his family, who are United States citizens, relocated back to the U.S.
Dailey was admitted to the University of Alberta, but because he was no longer a resident of Canada, the fee increased. The suit claims the annual fee for a foreign student at the University of Alberta is $15,408.56, while for Canadian students the cost is $6,200.
The suit alleges the Silvertips and WHL have refused to provide for expenses in excess of $6,200. Dailey is suing for the balance of his education costs plus attorneys fees.
The text of the standard player agreement does not deal specifically with players who change their country of residence during their WHL careers.
The Silvertips declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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