NHL Players Association to challenge lockout in Quebec and Alberta

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The NHL Players Association intends to challenge a lockout before labour boards in Quebec and Alberta, a move that if successful could force the league to pay players on the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers during a work stoppage.

The sport's labour contract expires at the end of Saturday and a lockout appears to be certain, which would be the league's fourth work stoppage since 1992 and first since the 2004-05 season was wiped out.

Labour law in Canada is provincial, not national. The NHLPA is not recognized as a certified union in Quebec.