LAST MONTH marked the silver anniversary of hockey’s shining moment, the 1980 Olympic semifinal game in which a bunch of fresh-faced American collegians beat the Soviets. But few National Hockey League players–or fans–saw cause to celebrate. February 2005 may go down as the blackest month in NHL history. Commissioner Gary Bettman officially nixed the 2004-2005 campaign, following a five-month lockout. No other North American professional sports league had ever forfeited an entire season due to a labor dispute. But for the first time since 1919, no team will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.
It gets worse. There’s been talk of dissident players forming a new league. As the New York Times has reported, about 400 (out of over 700) NHL players are now plying their trade in Europe. Some may not come back. Meanwhile, Bettman coyly hints that the 2005-2006 season could go forward with replacement players (“scabs”) if negotiations remain at an impasse. Hard to say what the fans find less appealing–billionaire owners baying for a salary cap or millionaire players crying poverty.
