As many as 10,000 players formerly under NHL contracts and their family members may pursue court cases against the league, court documents say, alleging it has promoted a culture of violence over the past decades but has failed to established proper rules and protocols for preventing head injuries. The suggestion that so many former players may sue the league comes in a statement of claim filed this week in Minnesota by Cory Larose, a New Brunswick-born forward who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Wild in 2000 but only played seven games in the NHL with the New York Rangers in 2003. Larose, 39, played 425 games in the American Hockey League between 2001 and 2009. He now lives in Maple Grove, Minn., after suffering "multiple head traumas during his NHL career that were improperly diagnosed and treated by the NHL. Mr. Larose was never warned by the NHL of the negative health effects of head trauma, and still suffers from the effects of that head trauma." He is seeking damages of more than $5 million, the lawsuit says. Larose is the latest former NHL player to sue for concussion-related issues. The first group of players included former Maple Leafs stars Gary Leeman and Rick Vaive, who sued the league in November demanding damages and league-financed medical monitoring and treatment for injuries the players said they suffered because of their NH: careers. Vaive later dropped out of the lawsuit. "The NHL purposefully failed to establish reasonable rules and protocols for preventing head trauma and minimizing the effects of head trauma, including during games and practice," Laroses lawsuit says. "What changes the NHL made to its violent construct were purposefully ineffective and solely calculated by the NHL to mislead (Larose)...and the public into ceasing investigations into the risks and consequences of head trauma and the NHLs wrongdoing." The court filing says Larose is seeking to sue as part of a larger class of litigants that include approximately 10,000 former players who include any living players who signed an NHL contract, their spouses and dependents, the estates of deceased players, who have retired formally or informally from playing pro hockey in the NHL and who are not seeking active employment as players with an NHL team. A lawyer involved in one of the concussions lawsuits against the NHL said the judge overseeing the cases is hosting a meeting next week to set out a schedule. The next step is for the league to file motions to dismiss the cases. If those are denied, then the litigants will ask for permission to certify the cases as a class action. If that is denied, then the cases would be heard individually, the lawyer said. Its unclear what kind of judgment the players might ultimately receive if they win the case. In a similar lawsuit filed on behalf of 20,000 former NFL players, the NFL agreed to pay about $700 million. That judgment was later amended, with the league agreeing to an unlimited settlement, based on the medical needs of the players. "In hockey, its a bit easier case to prove because of the fighting in the sport, and hockey players, the ones I have talked to, are generally worse off than the football players," Steven Silverman, a lawyer representing NHL players, told TSN. "There are a number of tragic cases in hockey and weve seen many cases where we have heard that former NHL trainers have been an owners former mechanic or something. They have had no medical qualifications. "But on the other hand, the NHL players have been less willing to come forward, so that makes it harder to predict a settlement number." Several similar lawsuits filed against the NHL have been moved from other venues and will be heard in Minnesota. "None of this is surprising," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN. "Its extremely predictable and doesnt have any impact on exposure or likelihood of ultimate success on the merits." The claims of Larose and other players have not been proven in court and the NHL has yet to file its statement of defence. Custom Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys . Maricopa County spokeswoman Cari Gerchick says thats the finding from an autopsy conducted Thursday by the county Medical Examiners Office. Steven Stamkos Jersey . The teams all-time leading scorer, DeRo has won everything there is to win in MLS. http://www.hockeylightning.com/ . Calgary finished atop the CFL standings with a 14-4 record and earned the right to host the West Division final at McMahon Stadium on Nov. Martin St. Louis Jersey . Amaro broke the NCAA all-time record for receiving yards in a season for a tight end with 1,352 during his junior campaign, eclipsing the mark of 1,329 set by Rices James Casey in 2008. Nikita Kucherov Jersey .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Chicago scored in a variety of ways to produce the Cubs best offensive nights of the young season. Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer before drawing a career-high four walks and Nate Schierholtz drove in three runs, rallying Chicago over the Cincinnati Reds 9-4 Wednesday night. Starlin Castro went 3 for 4 with two doubles for the Cubs, who matched their season-high in runs on the way to their second win in their last three games following a four-game losing streak. "We had good at-bats all night," Rizzo said. "Schierholtz had a huge at-bat in the ninth." Brayan Pena hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have lost four of five. Edwin Jackson (2-2) beat Cincinnati for the second time this year, allowing four runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. Brian Schlitter, Wesley Wright, Neil Ramirez and Hector Rondon combined for two-hit relief. "Its a good feeling," Jackson said about turning the game over to the bullpen. "We have confidence in those guys. Were confident that theyre going to come in and pick up the slack." With the score tied 3-3 in the fifth, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Nick Christiani (0-1). Mike Olt hit into an RBI forceout, and Schierholtz followed with a sacrifice fly. Manager Rick Renteria wasnt surprised to see his Cubs string together productive at-bats. "Weve been having a tough time trying to tack on runs and score runs," he said. "Today was an example of what we can do. "It was a good day all around," the first-year manager added. "(Jackson) kept us in the game and the relief pitching did a nice job." Schierholtz added a two-run single off Sean Marshall against a drawn-in infield in a four-run ninth. "It was good to see Nate get a hit there," Renteria said. Chicago needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first on Emilio Bonifacios leadoff single and the left-handed hitting Rizzos 426-foot, opposite-field homer to left-centre off of left-hander Tony Cingrani. "Its really early,&" Rizzo said.dddddddddddd "Im just trying not to do too much, especially against left-handers. Im not trying to get three hits in one at-bat." Todd Frazier tied the score with a two-out, two-run double in the half. Pena, signed by the Reds as a free agent in November, gave the Reds a 3-2 lead when he homered leading off the second -- his first home run since Aug. 11. His previous NL homer was for Atlanta against the Marlins on April 13, 2007. Castros single tied the score in the third. Cincinnati starter Tony Cingrani gave up three runs and six hits in four innings. "Im just a little fatigued," said Cingrani, whose velocity noticeably dropped in his last inning. "I was labouring. I dont know what it is about the first inning. Ive just got to pitch." Cingrani denied that he was having back problems, which forced him to spend time on the disabled list last season. "My back is fine," he said. "Ill make some minor adjustments and see how it goes." Manager Bryan Price believes his left-hander is simply in a slump. "Cingrani wasnt real sharp," he said. "His velocity started to back down that last inning. I didnt think we should send him back out there and expect different results. Other than his first starts against St. Louis, hes been finding his way. We just want to make sure hes strong. He hasnt been sharp lately." Brandon Phillips had an RBI single in the fifth, his eighth hit in his last 46 at bats (.174). NOTES: Reds manager Bryan Price confirmed that LHP Aroldis Chapman will start and pitch one inning for Class A Dayton on Thursday in the first game of his minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. Price expects Chapman to make four appearances over seven to 10 days in the minors. Chapman had a plate inserted above his left eye to heal fractures from a line drive on March 19. ... The Cubs are scheduled to open a five-game homestand on Friday against St. Louis. The Reds are scheduled to open a four-game home series Thursday against Milwaukee, the team with the big leagues best record. 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