NHL lockout: Key dates to keep in mind
With the NHL lockout more than 20 days old and now with the first two weeks of the season cancelled, many significant moments on the 2012-13 schedule are now in jeopardy. Here's a list of which dates to keep on eye on.
Notable events could be affected by work stoppage
When the NHL decided to cancel the first two weeks of the season on Thursday, it immediately put many key moments on the 2012-13 schedule in jeopardy.
With no end in sight, many are concerned that NHL owners and players will do battle through another lengthy stalemate.
It is the fourth work stoppage in the past 20 years, with the most recent one costing the league, its players and fans an entire season in 2004-05.
Here are key dates to keep in mind that could affect some, or most, of the events listed below:
- Oct. 11: Four games highlight the beginning of the regular season. CBC's Hockey Night in Canada kicks off its 60th season that night with a doubleheader – Ottawa-Montreal and Vancouver-Calgary.
- Oct. 15: NHL players will receive their escrow cheques from last season.
- Nov. 23: NBC begins its hockey coverage with a Thanksgiving matchup between Boston and N.Y. Rangers
- Early December: HBO Sports' 24/7: Road To The Winter Classic returns for a third season, featuring 2013 participants Toronto and Detroit.
- Jan. 1/2013: The traditional Winter Classic pits the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Detroit Red Wings at the University of Michigan.
- Mid January: On Jan. 11, 1995 the NHL and its players ended a three-month lockout to play a shortened 48-game regular season, plus a full slate of Stanley Cup playoff contests.
- Mid February: This could be a notable time for a dubious reason. It was back in Feb. 16, 2005 that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced the cancellation of the entire 2004-05 season when players and owners couldn’t reach a deal on the last collective bargaining agreement.