NHL

[Adam]

So now the Owners are arguing with eachother?

[avadakedavra]

That's what it sounds like.

[Adam]

This whole thing is really pathetic... It is sad that grown men can not come to some type of agreement...

[avadakedavra]

I had that thought, but then I think of just normal people who act like four year olds so It doesn't really surprise me much.

I'm to the point that I'm just waiting for the WHL to start up so the players I follow actually have jobs. Some of them can sit through a lock out, maybe two, but if they haven't invested well, or they don't make a lot ( rookies for example ) they're screwed.

I don't even want to think about Canada's economy after this.

[avadakedavra]

Report: NHL, NHLPA to meet

TORONTO (Ticker) -- After breaking the silence last week, the NHL and the Players Association apparently are ready to meet again. According to a report on TSN of Canada's Web site, the league and union will hold their second labor meeting in seven days Thursday at an undisclosed location. The sides gathered here Friday for the first time since Feb. 19, three days after commissioner Gary Bettman announced the official cancellation of the 2004-05 season. The 90-minute session reportedly contained nothing more than dialogue as no proposals for a new collective bargaining agreement were exchanged.

The league was represented by Bettman, executive vice president Bill Daly, general counsel David Zimmerman and outside counsel Bob Batterman. Executive director Bob Goodenow, senior director Ted Saskin, associate counsel Ian Pulver and outside counsel John McCambridge participated on behalf of the union. Bettman undoubtedly would like to have a deal in place in order to save the entry draft, which is scheduled for June 25-26 in Ottawa and features junior superstar Sidney Crosby, who is expected to be selected first overall.

Despite the absence of a proposal during Friday's session, both sides apparently have removed their previous offers from the bargaining table. In an effort to save the 2004-05 campaign prior to Bettman's announcement on Feb. 16, the league conceded the linking of players' salaries to league revenues and the union backed off its stance against salary cap. But the sides could not agree on a dollar amount for a cap as the NHL proposed a figure of $42.5 million while the union countered with a $49 million plan. With neither party willing to give in to the other's request, the NHL became the first major North American sports league to have an entire season canceled due to a labor dispute.

© 2004 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP

[avadakedavra]

If anyone is curious, I updated Tony Amonte dot Com. I'll get to the news section this weekend

[avadakedavra]

NHL Draft's likely dead

Sportsnet has learned the 2005 NHL Entry Draft scheduled for June 25-26th in Ottawa is about to be officially called off.

Sportsnet.ca -- The future of phenom Sidney Crosby and those hoping to be part of the 2005 crop picked for the NHL draft just got a lot more complicated. Sportsnet has learned the 2005 NHL Entry Draft scheduled for June 25-26th in Ottawa is about to be officially called off. The NHL is expected to announce its decision tomorrow. The draft becomes the latest victim of the lockout as both sides in the dispute remain miles apart, both literally and figuratively. An alternative to the formal draft is being considered. It's believed the league would conduct an electronic selection process either over the internet, a mass teleconference call, or a combination of both. Sources say Ottawa and the Senators' home, the Corel Centre, may consider picking up the 2008 NHL Draft in lieu of the cancellation. Crosby, currently filling up the nets in the QMJHL for the Rimouski Oceanic, was expected to be the top pick in the 2005 draft.

[Hiro]

i miss the NHL

[OriginalSin]

lockout's over i saw <_<

[avadakedavra]

NHL, NHLPA reach agreement in principle on new CBA

NEW YORK/TORONTO (July 13, 2005) - The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Details of the new Agreement will not be made available publicly pending the formal ratification process by the NHLPA Members and the NHL Board of Governors.

It is anticipated that the ratification process will be completed next week, at which time the parties will be prepared to discuss the details of the Agreement and plans for next season. No further comment will be made until then.

[babranski]

Yea! I really missed hockey last season , I had to rip off the Carolina Hurricane's stickers on my car. I felt bad for all those guys with the logo on there license plate

[avadakedavra]

PREAMBLE

This Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA" or "Agreement"), which is the product of bona fide, arm's length collective bargaining, entered into effective the 13th day of January, 1995, and amended effective the 26th day of June, 1997, by and between the National Hockey League, a joint venture organized as a not-for-profit unincorporated association ("NHL" or "League"), which is recognized as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of the present and future Clubs of the NHL, and the National Hockey League Players' Association ("NHLPA" or "Association"), which is recognized as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of present and future players in the NHL. The NHL and the NHLPA hereafter shall be referred to collectively as "the parties". This CBA, together with all Exhibits hereto, supersedes and replaces all prior CBA's and Memoranda of Understanding between the parties.

Link to PDF file containing the rest

If you guys want, I can post the entire thing, legal talk and all

[avadakedavra]

The NHLPA are having a press conference today (1 PM MST, and 4 PM EST) on ESPN (I'm guessing). They agreed to the CBA this morning.

[babranski]

SWEEEEEEATums, I missed my 'Canes.

[avadakedavra]

NHL works to break ice with fans

July 23, 2005

BY JENNIFER JONES Staff Reporter (Chicago Sun-Times)

The NHL's Board of Governors voted unanimously Friday to ratify the new collective-bargaining agreement, bringing to an end the 310-day lockout and setting the stage for commissioner Gary Bettman to reintroduce the league to its fans

Bettman understood the disappointment fans felt when the lockout led to the cancellation of the 2004-05 season and promised to make it up to them, saying, ''We will do everything in our power to be the best we can be and earn your continued devotion.''

Answering calls to improve the product, Bettman announced a list of rule changes designed to increase offense and excitement, including a shootout to break ties and the allowance of two-line passes.

The league also held its draft lottery, with the No. 1 pick and the opportunity to draft phenom Sidney Crosby going to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blackhawks will have the seventh pick in the draft, which will be held next Saturday.

Hawks owner Bill Wirtz represented his team at a televised event announcing the results of the lottery, and said, ''Justice, justice,'' when it was revealed the Penguins would have the first pick. General manager Dale Tallon did not return calls from the Sun-Times seeking his reaction.

The Hawks are holding a news conference Monday regarding their marketing initiatives and are reluctant to address questions on those topics until that time. But potential customers who called the ticket office Friday were told the ticket prices would be the same as they would have been for the 2004-05 season, with a few exceptions for individual tickets that would be designated for situations such as group sales and walk-up sales.

In anticipation of the lockout, the Hawks announced they would reduce season-ticket prices for the 2004-05 season by 10 percent while all other ticket prices would remain the same.

Asked Friday about the league's plans for ticket prices, Bettman said, ''The clubs are well-connected to their fans. Every club is going to have to revisit its economics in light of the deal. It will sort itself out, but the inflationary pressure has been reduced, and when you look at the prices compared to other sports, they'll be favorably compared.''

Another issue facing the NHL is its television situation. Bettman referenced the league's relationship with NBC, a profit-sharing deal with no guaranteed rights fee, and also said he was confident the league would have a new national cable package in the ''not-too-distant future.'' ESPN declined to pick up its option on the upcoming season and so far has not negotiated a new deal with the league at a lower price.

Bettman said the league will provide better access during its television broadcasts: showing more of what happens behind the scenes, putting microphones on players and coaches, offering more interviews during the game, and using a camera that runs along the boards.

The season will begin Oct. 5 with all 30 teams playing, and the schedule will have a slightly greater emphasis on rivalries and in-conference play. NHL players will participate in the Olympics in 2006 and 2010, and there will not be an All-Star Game in the years in which there is a break for the Olympics. Bettman also announced the formation of a player-league competition committee and the promotion of Bill Daly from chief legal officer to deputy commissioner.

As for those rule changes, a shootout will determine the winner when a regular-season game is tied after a five-minute, four-on-four overtime. Three players from each team will participate, and if the score remains tied after each team takes three shots, the shootout will continue with a sudden-death format.

Two-line passes will be allowed, and play will continue if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone tag up at the blue line. The offensive zones will be bigger, and the goal lines will be closer to the end boards. The size of goalie equipment will be reduced, and goalies will be allowed to play the puck behind the goal line only in a limited area. There will be stricter standards of enforcement of obstruction and interference, among other changes.

[avadakedavra]

A NEW ORDER

The order for the draft next Saturday, as determined by the lottery. After the first round, the 30th team reportedly also will pick 31st with the order winding back and forth for a total of seven rounds.

1. Pittsburgh

2. Anaheim

3. Carolina

4. Minnesota

5. Montreal

6. Columbus

7. Chicago

8. Atlanta

9. Ottawa

10. Vancouver

11. Los Angeles

12. San Jose

13. Buffalo

14. Washington

15. N.Y. Islanders

16. N.Y. Rangers

17. Phoenix

18. Nashville

19. Detroit

20. Philadelphia

21. Toronto

22. Boston

23. New Jersey

24. St. Louis

25. Edmonton

26. Calgary

27. Colorado

28. Dallas

29. Florida

30. Tampa Bay

[avadakedavra]

Schedules have been released - view here

[avadakedavra]

This is more "hockey" and not "NHL" but I thought I'd share anyway.

Sticks and Wheels Help Them Forget the Bombs

CAMP WARHORSE, Iraq - One night recently, just after dusk, a convoy of Humvees came to an abrupt halt as it was leaving this military base. A soldier in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle climbed out, camera in hand, and stared, agape, at the silhouettes of seven figures gliding in skates atop a large concrete slab.

"Hey guys, can you believe this?" he yelled to his fellow soldiers inside the Humvee, just before snapping a few photos and driving off. "Hockey in Iraq. Now I've seen everything."

There is basketball for soldiers in Iraq, college courses for soldiers in Iraq, even salsa dancing lessons for soldiers in Iraq. But roller hockey for soldiers in Iraq must be among the rarest recreational activities of all.

Here at Warhorse, though, near the city of Baquba, about 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, hockey has become a nightly ritual.

Soldiers from Company B of the 203rd Forward Support Battalion, Third Infantry Division, gather at 7 p.m. to lace up their skates and play hockey on an area of concrete separated from the base's helipad by blast walls.

The soldiers' 16 sets of in-line skates and 13 hockey sticks were donated by sporting-goods stores in Wisconsin. The single goal the soldiers use was fashioned with tent poles they welded together and netting normally used as a sun barrier.

Some soldiers had skated before. Some had played roller hockey before. Others, like Staff Sgt. Glennville Fox from Palatka, Fla., had done neither. "I'm not very nimble, but this just helps me pass the time," he said after missing a shot on goal, losing his balance and falling to the ground face first, spread eagle.

On the other side of the goal, Specialist Eric Armstrong let out a belly laugh as he weaved around other players, an orange rubber ball on the tip of his stick. He shot and scored. Then the players promptly lost the ball in the darkness.

"While still in Kuwait, I joked that we'd be playing hockey here in a few months, but I was totally kidding," said Specialist Armstrong, 20, who is from Appleton, Wis., and has played hockey since he was 10. "Now it's weird to play this here, because Iraqis have probably never even seen hockey, or ice, for that matter.

"But after awhile, I couldn't watch another movie, couldn't play another video game," he said. "I needed hockey."

Specialist Armstrong and a few other players work security, escorting convoys down the perilous roads to and from Warhorse, an area rife with roadside bombs. Other times, Specialist Armstrong searches people entering the base, including injured Iraqis en route to the aid station.

"We search them even though they have cut-up legs and shot-off arms or flesh hanging off of them," he said. "People have been known to strap bombs to their legs even then, so we have to keep the base safe. Now you know why we use hockey to distract us from our day jobs."

Convoy security missions are just as stressful, but sometimes boring because there may be long waits at either end of the trips. Before his hockey equipment arrived, Specialist Armstrong said he often spent that down time dreaming about playing in the National Hockey League or trying to remember how it felt to dance across the ice with a hockey stick in his hand.

In other times of ennui, he found different ways to occupy his time. Once, he ran full speed at a giant roll of Bubble Wrap to see if he would bounce off. (He did.) He then had grand plans to leap from the top of his housing unit while bear-hugging that Bubble Wrap, but one of his noncommissioned officers put a stop to it.

Finally, after a few months in Iraq, he decided to ask his mother, Kris Armstrong, to buy 13 sets of inline skates, 13 hockey sticks and 2 sets of goalie equipment with the money he had saved while overseas. When she went to sporting-goods stores to buy them, Specialist Armstrong said, she ended up persuading the managers to donate more than $2,000 worth of equipment.

Kris Armstrong spent about $150 to send that gear to Iraq. The equipment arrived two weeks ago and was the best package from home that Specialist Armstrong could dream of, he said.

Since then, more and more soldiers have shown up to play. One night last week, more than a dozen soldiers in desert camouflage uniforms or gray T-shirts and black shorts sat in a row of dusty plastic chairs, most of them smoking cigarettes before the game began. They leaned their weapons - most have M-16 rifles, some with grenade launchers - against concrete barriers and slipped on their skates while a group of cafeteria workers from Africa played cricket in the background.

Before the game began, Specialist Armstrong quickly fixed the goal with duct tape. The night before, another soldier had trouble braking and skated through the metal frame. When Specialist Armstrong was finished, the group set out for nearly two hours of gliding and, in some cases, colliding.

"Hey, did you do this damage to me yesterday?" Sgt. Thomas Miller, 25, from Carmine, Ill., said to Specialist Armstrong, while pointing to a welt on his right shin.

"Better me than some Iraqi," Specialist Armstrong said, as he skated off smiling.

SOURCE: NY Times

[maddog107]

go jersey

[OriginalSin]

go jersey

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

UM???????????????????????

oh u want to get burned dont u?!?!?!?!?