Advertisement

London Knights super fan threatens to sue club over Mitch Marner jersey

London Knights super fan threatens to sue club over Mitch Marner jersey

Scott Galbraith has been known as the London Knights’ super fan, but these days he has a big beef with the Memorial Cup champions.

Galbraith believes he was cheated by the Knights and is considering legal action against the Ontario Hockey League franchise, the London Free Press reported. 

In May, Galbraith won an auction for an authentic, game-worn, black Mitch Marner jersey, paying $3,510 for the piece of Knights memorabilia. Galbraith believed he would be receiving the No. 93 jersey Marner wore during the Memorial Cup; however, that jersey along with Christian Dvorak’s gloves, Matthew Tkachuk’s stick and Olli Juolevi’s helmet were all sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Knights provided Galbraith with a Marner jersey, but not the one he was hoping for. The hockey club believes they’ve held up their end of the bargain.

We’ve done nothing wrong,” Knights governor Trevor Whiffen, a lawyer, told the Free Press. “What we were offering for sale on the CHL site were sweaters worn during the regular season. At no time did we say we were going to give him a playoff sweater, an OHL championship sweater or a Memorial Cup sweater.

“We gave him a game-worn Marner sweater. That’s what he accepted knowing the Memorial Cup sweater was in the hall of fame. We said if you’re not happy with that, we’ll refund your money.”

According to Whiffen, Galbraith has threatened to sue the hockey club. The Knights reportedly offered to reclaim the jersey from the Hockey Hall of Fame, but want Galbraith to sign a confidentiality agreement before the transaction is complete.

“We tried to get you the sweater (from the hall),” Whiffen said. “We don’t think you’re entitled to it but let’s resolve this amicably, but you’ve got to give us a final release. We’ve tried to pacify him, but there is nothing that will make him happy unless we write a cheque and we’re not going to do that.”

Galbraith has not made clear his next move, but has retained former Knights’ goaltender Gene Chiarello as his lawyer. The 37-year-old puck stopper spent four seasons with the team (1996-00) and is a director of the team’s alumni association.

“I think it would be completely ill-conceived for Gene Chiarello or any other lawyer to issue a claim,” Whiffen told the Free Press, “but if they do, I can defend it vigorously — and I will.”

Marner led the OHL in postseason scoring and was both the regular season and playoff MVP. The 19-year-old was also named Memorial Cup MVP and CHL player of the year. The Maple Leafs prospect spent the past three seasons with the Knights and is expected to challenge for a roster spot on the NHL club this season.