Third Week of Scheduled Regular Season Cancelled by League -NHL Lockout Update
The National Hockey League (NHL), in what is being termed to be highly expected, cancelled the third straight week of the scheduled 2012-2013 regular season on Friday, October 19, 2012.
A day after the league and Players’ Association failed to reach an agreement following their second meeting this week along with the NHL having made a 50-50 offer on Tuesday, it was highly expected that the third season of the regular season would also be
officially cancelled to fulfil the formalities of the lockout.
Whether or not the league officially announcing the cancellation, games were not going to kickoff as there is still a deadlock between the league and labour union and until a solution does to come to that, no hockey will be played.
"As expected," New York Rangers goalie Martin Biron told The Associated Press in a text message. "We continue to work hard to find an agreement and get back to playing hockey."
During Thursday’s meeting, the NHL, in a matter of minutes, rejected three proposals made by the Players’ Association in lieu of their 50-50 offer without even a slight consideration as they termed them to be ‘not even close’ to the one they had made to
the labour union.
"None of the three variations of player share that they gave us even began to approach 50-50, either at all or for some long period of time," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday. "It's clear we're not speaking the same language."
Even Donald Fehr, executive director of the Players’ Association, was not happy at the outcome as future meetings look gloom with nothing officially scheduled as of yet.
"This is not a good day," Fehr said after the recent most meeting. "It should have been."
November will be a critical month for both stakeholders, since not only are more games of the regular season on the line but also the high anticipated Winter Classic event, which is set for January of 2013.
The league has shown hope by saying that there still is an 82-game regular season to play if a deal is reached by November, but if not, not only will a full hockey year go out the window, but possibly the Winter Classic as well.
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