Kelly Santini LLP’s JP Zubec successfully represented the Central Canada Hockey League in Pembroke Lumber Kings Hockey Club v. Central Canada Hockey League, 2026 ONSC 4332. The case involved a motion by the former owner of the Pembroke Lumber Kings team in the CCHL, which was seeking to have its league membership temporarily restored while it challenged the CCHL’s decision to terminate its membership for indebtedness.  The termination decision had previously been upheld by a CCHL appeal panel, a Hockey Eastern Ontario Appeal Committee, and the Hockey Canada National Appeal Committee.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed the motion, finding that the CCHL’s termination process complied with both its by-laws and the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. The former member had received notice of the allegations, was given multiple opportunities to respond, made extensive written and oral submissions, and exercised every available internal appeal.

The decision reinforces the importance of getting legal advice before sports organization or not-for-profit corporation terminates the membership of a member.  Courts will generally defer to the internal governance processes of not-for-profit organization where a termination proceeding is fair and complies with governing legislation and the applicable by-laws.  It also confirms that a former member that is seeking a mandatory injunction to reverse a membership termination decision faces a very high legal threshold when bringing a motion for an injunction.