The four Western Hockey League teams based in Washington state and the league itself have been advised by the states department of labour and industries that an investigative team will expand a probe of major junior hockey to see whether teams have violated child labour laws. Soccer Jerseys 2020 . TSN has learned the teams and the WHL were told this week that the states attorney general has recommended a year-long investigation continue. Earlier this fall, Matt Erlich, a spokesman for the Washington Department of Labour and Industries, said his department had asked the attorney general for advice about whether to continue the investigation. In 2013, the department received a complaint about how much money the players were paid in relation to the time they worked. The allegation claimed players receive less than the states minimum wage. Four Washington WHL teams are being investigated: Seattle, Everett, Tri-Cities, and Spokane. Erlich said the complaint came from within the state. Now that the attorney general has recommended widening the probe, at least three investigators have been assigned to the case. They will conduct in-person interviews with WHL players and team staff and ask for written documentation in the coming months to see if there has been a violation of the industrial welfare act, Erlich told TSN. Most players in the WHL are teenagers and stay with host families during the season. The teams provide the room and board and a promise of university scholarships after their playing careers, so long as they dont go on to long careers in pro hockey. According to a recent lawsuit filed against the WHL and its parent Canadian Hockey League, the for-profit league has paid some players as little as $50 a week. Unifor, a union that wants to organize junior players, says players work about 1,000 hours during the course of the season. In Washington state, where the minimum wage is $9.32 an hour, that would mean each player should receive at least $9,320. WHL Commissioner Ron Robinson defending the league structure in an earlier statement. The Western Hockey League (WHL) Member Clubs in Washington are aware that the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has been taking a look at junior hockey with regard to the status of our amateur players. Our WHL Clubs in Washington have responded to the government, providing requested information and explaining that our players are student athletes playing in a developmental hockey league, and participating in and contributing to their sport the same way as other amateur athletes. We are advised by the Department that..no decision has been reached in the matter. Amateur hockey players have competed within the WHL in the State of Washington since 1977. The WHL certainly recognizes that undoubtedly any changes to the status of junior hockey players could impact the status of other amateur athletes in the state as well. Erlich said his department could ultimately impose civil and criminal penalties. TSN couldnt immediately reach the CHL and WHL for comment. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . The Reds will host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the opener of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the debut matchup will feature a pair of pitchers whose recent resumes have included a fair number of bases-clearing hits. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . After not scoring 40 points in the opening quarter in the last five seasons, the Rockets have done it five times this season and twice in the last three games. https://www.cheapsoccerjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Inter moved five points behind fourth-place Fiorentina and eight points behind third-place Napoli, which visits relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Sunday. LAS VEGAS -- A huge double takeout by Olympics-bound Brad Jacobs played a huge role in giving Team North America the lead at the Continental Cup on Thursday. Jacobs made a double takeout to blank the seventh end in his traditional team-play showdown against Team Worlds Niklas Edin. And in the eighth end, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native made an open hit to score one for a 4-3 victory. Jacobs win was part of a clean sweep of the evening games, giving Team North America a 6-3 lead on Team World. The first team reaching 30.5 points by Sundays final day will win the title. "That feels great," said Jacobs, who will skip Canada at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. "That was my first game ever, all of our (his teammates) first games, at the Continental Cup and that was a blast." "That was a no-risk shot," said Jacobs of the blank attempt in the seventh end. "If we hit one of the back ones and give up a steal, its not the worst, coming up with hhammer. Soccer Jerseys For Sale. It was a no-fear shot; I threw it real aggressive and it worked out perfect." In other action, Team North Americas Rachel Homan of Ottawa was a 6-4 winner over Team Worlds Margaretha Sigfridsson. Homans rink stole a deuce in the sixth end to turn the game around when Sigfridssons last-rock thrower, Maria Prytz, couldnt execute a hit-and-roll to score. "Just barely," said Homan about the victory. "But that was good. My whole team played well and so did Sigfridssons. Pretty excited about the three-team sweep tonight." In the other evening game, Team North Americas John Shuster hung on for a 5-3 win over Team Worlds David Murdoch. Shuster, who will skip the United States in Sochi, scored two in the fourth end and never looked back. Team World won two of three traditional team games in the morning draw of curlings version of the Ryder Cup, and Team North America won two of the three mixed doubles matches in the afternoon. ' ' '