Dallas Stars Executives at the Center of NHL Youth Hockey Scandal Over Costly Hotel Bookings
A major NHL youth hockey scandal has surfaced, exposing how three Dallas Stars executives misused their positions to profit from families participating in youth hockey tournaments. The officials imposed stay-to-play rules, forcing parents to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive hotel stays—while secretly benefiting financially from the very system they controlled.
Stay-to-Play Tactics Drove Profit in NHL Youth Hockey Scandal
For more than four years, Damon Boettcher, Lucas Reid, and Brad Buckland organized Stars-run tournaments that required out-of-town teams to stay in designated hotels. Families had no option but to book rooms through these selected hotels—facing penalties like removal from the tournament or forfeiture of entry fees ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per team if they tried to book elsewhere.
Behind the scenes, the three were operating their own company, Stay2Play LLC, acting as the booking middleman. They secured lucrative deals with hotels, taking a share of the revenue from families forced into these arrangements. Families often paid between $162 to $175 per night, with mandatory stays of three to four nights.
Tournament records revealed that nearly half of the participants at 48 events between mid-2020 and December 2024 were from outside the host city. This meant more than 20,000 families unknowingly contributed to the personal profits of the same executives organizing the tournaments—a core part of the NHL youth hockey scandal.
Conflict of Interest Deepens the NHL Youth Hockey Scandal
Further complicating the scandal, Lucas Reid held the position of president, and Brad Buckland served as secretary of the Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA)—the nonprofit governing body for youth and adult hockey in Texas and Oklahoma. This association oversees tournaments and ensures compliance with hockey regulations.
While overseeing the very tournaments that enriched them, Reid and Buckland had the power to set agendas, shape policies, and block changes—like any proposal to ban stay-to-play requirements. This conflict of interest allowed the NHL youth hockey scandal to continue unchecked, leaving families with no choice but to comply with unfair rules.
Parents expected board members to prioritize the sport’s integrity and families’ interests. Instead, their trust was exploited, as those responsible for safeguarding the sport profited from the system.
Executives Exit, but Fallout from NHL Youth Hockey Scandal Remains
As of January, the three individuals involved are no longer employed by the Dallas Stars. However, Reid and Buckland continue to serve on the Texas Amateur Hockey Association board, raising concerns about accountability and transparency.
Despite multiple attempts, neither Reid nor Buckland responded to requests for comments. Boettcher, in a brief statement, denied any wrongdoing but declined to answer detailed questions about the operation.
This NHL youth hockey scandal has sparked outrage among parents and families, highlighting the urgent need for reforms to protect young athletes from financial exploitation and conflicts of interest within youth sports governance.