NHL Cancels Two Weeks of Season
The National Hockey League canceled its first two weeks of regular-season games Thursday, as they reached their 18th day in the lockout. In a statement, the NHL canceled 82 games between Oct. 11 and Oct. 24.
There have been no new labor talks scheduled as of late, and it isn't clear as to whether those games would be made up later in the season to fill out a complete 82-game regular season.
The lockout revolves around the NHL and the Players' Association inability to split $3 billion in hockey-related revenues.
"We are extremely disappointed to have to make today's announcement," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement Thursday. "The game deserves better, the fans deserve better, and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better."
On the other hand, the Players' Association say that the NHL pushed the lockout onto the players instead of allowing the season to go on as planned.
"The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners," NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said in a statement. "If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue."
The NHL season was scheduled to start next Thursday night, but fans will have to wait for at least two weeks until the lockout is resolved.
