What a weekend for pro hockey to return to Raleigh, N.C.
With the recent announcement on Sunday
morning that the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’
Association (NHLPA) came to a tentative agreement to a new Collective
Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the timing to feature professional hockey in the area couldn't come at better time.
On Sunday the Charlotte Checkers, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate club of the National Hockey League (NHL) Carolina Hurricanes, play on the big club's home ice surface for the first-ever AHL game played at PNC Arena.
The Checkers (19-11-5), currently in first place in the Western Conference - South Division, host the Norfolk Admirals (14-16-2), occupants of last place in the Eastern Conference - East Division.
For fans in Raleigh, it will be the first glimpse of professional hockey all season.
Judging by the energy in the building, they have a lot of it to release.
According to announcements made by both sides, the agreement was reached at 4:40 a.m. and announced to media at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and would still need to be voted upon by the respective NHL Board of Governors and membership of the NHLPA.
Call it a formality at this point after team management, players, fans and everyone related to the business that is NHL hockey endured a 113-day lockout imposed by NHL owners after the previous CBA expired on Sept. 15, before getting to this point.
For the non-believers, seeing NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director standing side-by-side to make the announcement is proof that the reality of an NHL season being played this year is true.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman & NHLPA Executive Director Donal Fehr - NHL.com
"Don Fehr and I are here to tell you that we have reached an agreement on
the framework of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the details of
which need to be put to paper," Bettman said.
"We
have to dot a lot of I's and cross a lot of T's. There is still a lot of
work to be done, but the basic framework has been agreed upon. We have
to go through a ratification process and the Board of Governors has to
approve it from the League side and, obviously, the players have to
approve it as well."
As all the details are released and sorted out, players will now prepare to begin a short training camp period - up to a week at most - before jumping right into competing for the Stanley Cup during what will be an intense 48-50-game season.
Drop the puck - NHL hockey is back!
---
Did you miss it? Get caught up here!
Full recap of Carolina Hurricanes Examiner coverage during the lockout on Examiner.com:
As he walked through the lobby at Raleigh Center Ice on
Wednesday, Carolina Hurricanes forward and assistant captain Jordan
Staal couldn’t say much about the current Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) negotiations ongoing between the National Hockey League
(NHL..
A select group of Carolina Hurricanes players continued their
on-ice work at Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N.C. on Wednesday while
representatives from the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National
Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) continued..
There were only three of them on the ice at Raleigh Center Ice
in Raleigh N.C. Monday, but Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal,
goaltender Cam Ward, and forward Anthony Stewart were sweating it out
and putting in an intense..
The membership of the National Hockey League Players’
Association (NHLPA) came to an overwhelmingly unanimous decision to
empower its executive board to file a ‘disclaimer of interest’ via a
vote taken by its membership as reported by..
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jay Harrison had just finished
his on-ice work at Raleigh Center Ice and offered his weekly musings
regarding all things hockey from Raleigh N.C. on Friday
morning.Accustomed to being asked about his perspective regarding..
Following a contentious week of negotiations with the National
Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), the National Hockey League
(NHL) announced the cancellation of games scheduled through Dec. 30 in a
statement released from its offices in New York, N..
Labor negotiations between the National Hockey League (NHL) and
National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) came to a critical
impasse in New York late Thursday.After a positive set of developments
occurred the previous day that had left players..
The National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League
Players’ Association (NHLPA) continued to meet while working to
negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in New York, N.Y.
on Wednesday.After a long and enduring day..
Carolina Hurricanes Director of Community Relations and
Promotions, Jon Chase, announced details of the team’s annual toy drive
from PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday.Even while the current
National Hockey League (NHL) lockout continues due..
The National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League
Players’ Association (NHLPA) agreed to allow federal mediators to become
involved with current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
negotiations as announced in New York, N.Y. on Monday.Federal
Mediation..
As of Friday morning, the word coming from various media reports
was that National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner Gary Bettman had
proposed a two-week moratorium on current Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) talks with the National Hockey League
Players..
National Hockey League (NHL) owners must be doing very well
financially as their current lockout of players has now extended to 49
full days and counting as of Saturday.What other reason would there be
to completely lock their doors..
As he walked through the doors leading from the ice surface at
Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday, Finnish forward Jussi
Jokinen wiped his brow of residual sweat from his recent on-ice workout
with a few..
“Now is the winter of our discontent”, wrote William Shakespeare
who penned the phrase in the opening line of his play, Richard III,
back in 1591.It seems like a line that can easily be inserted into
the..
The Charlotte Checkers, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate
club to the National Hockey League (NHL) Carolina Hurricanes, are off to
a good start during the early part of their regular season schedule.As
of Monday, the Checkers currently sit with..
On Tuesday, the National Hockey League (NHL) presented the
National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) with an updated
proposal as speaking points to developing a new Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA).With the owners’ lockout of the players moving..
After weeks of not hearing any ‘new’ news, the National Hockey
League (NHL), through commissioner Gary Bettman, made an offer on
Tuesday to the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) in
hopes of negotiating a new Collective..
With the current lockout of National Hockey League (NHL) players
by team owners still ongoing, and to some never-ending, the only
professional hockey being played in North Carolina is by the Carolina
Hurricanes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate..
Charlotte Checkers head coach and general manager Jeff Daniels
announced on Thursday that the team had assigned four players to its
East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliate, the Florida Everblades.The
Checkers, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate to the National..
The National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Thursday the
cancellation of 2012-13 regular-season games through Oct. 24. The
cancellation was necessary because of the absence of a Collective
Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL Players’ Association...
Charlotte Checkers head coach and general manager Jeff Daniels
announced on Tuesday that the team signed forward Drayson Bowman to an
American Hockey League (AHL) contract.Back in late July, the Checkers’
National Hockey League (NHL) affiliate, the Carolina..
They’re just a couple of guys with hockey equipment and sticks
and a desire to play hockey.That’s how Carolina Hurricanes captains Eric
and Jordan Staal walked out of the Raleigh Center Ice rink in
Raleigh..
The National Hockey League (NHL) announced on Thursday the
cancellation of the balance of the league’s exhibition schedule, due to
the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the
National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPLA) and..
The reality and impact of the current lockout of players by
National Hockey League (NHL) owners is starting to be felt.The National
Hockey League announced on Wednesday the cancellation of 2012 preseason
games scheduled through Sept. 30.For Carolina..
“Let’s just keep our fingers crossed.”That was the sentiment
coming from the mouths of the last group of Carolina Hurricanes fans
walking to their cars in the parking lot at Raleigh Center Ice in
Raleigh..
Watching the dozen or so Carolina Hurricanes players taking part
in a quick 50-minute workout at Raleigh Center Ice in Raleigh, N.C. on
Friday, you could tell that they were ready to start a new season in
the..
As Carolina Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller prepared himself
to play in the recent Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic held at Lonnie
Poole Golf Course in Raleigh N.C, on Sunday, the thought of the upcoming
NHL season was obviously...
Though the day, month, and year has changed, everything surrounding the NHL has remained the same - it ended 2012 in a lockout, and it has begun 2013 with no change in its status.
Both the league and the NHLPA are still trying to put together a new CBA while the players have endured 108 days of not practicing, playing games, and subsequently not getting paid.
No one can tell for sure if the last three days of phone calls, communications, and meetings related to a recent offer made by the NHL to the Union last Thursday will help push everything over the edge.
On Monday, the NHLPA offered a counterproposal to the league and delivered it with players in attendance as has been their operating procedure throughout this process.
There were only three of them on the ice at Raleigh Center Ice
in Raleigh N.C. Monday, but Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal,
goaltender Cam Ward, and forward Anthony Stewart were sweating it out
and putting in an intense..
The membership of the National Hockey League Players’
Association (NHLPA) came to an overwhelmingly unanimous decision to
empower its executive board to file a ‘disclaimer of interest’ via a
vote taken by its membership as reported by..
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jay Harrison had just finished
his on-ice work at Raleigh Center Ice and offered his weekly musings
regarding all things hockey from Raleigh N.C. on Friday
morning.Accustomed to being asked about his perspective regarding..
Following a contentious week of negotiations with the National
Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), the National Hockey League
(NHL) announced the cancellation of games scheduled through Dec. 30 in a
statement released from its offices in New York, N..
Carolina Hurricanes' Jay Harrison supervises puck pick-up - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
What a difference a day or two makes.
Just as the excitement of positive developments in Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks early in the week gave many fuzzy and warm feelings of watching NHL hockey in the near future, the reality of both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) engaging in some serious fisticuffs hit everyone head on.
The high level of hope reached between Tuesday and Wednesday came crashing down hard and fast over the next two days.
Both sides have reached a point that might have wiped the slate clean and to start over - at least that's what the NHL says.
However, too much has been discussed and to much energy has been invested to throw it all away.
The players are ready to play and the fans are ready to watch.
Owners - get the keys out and remove the padlocks!
The time has come to resurface the ice, or install it if it's still not in, and drop the puck.
It's not too late!
Recent NHL Hockey news from the Raleigh Sports Examiner on Examiner.com:
Labor negotiations between the National Hockey League (NHL) and
National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) came to a critical
impasse in New York late Thursday.After a positive set of developments
occurred the previous day that had left players..
The National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League
Players’ Association (NHLPA) continued to meet while working to
negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in New York, N.Y.
on Wednesday.After a long and enduring day..
Eric & Jordan Staal - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
The National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey LeaguePlayers’ Association (NHLPA) have put in some long hours in the board room while trying
to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) this week in New York,
N.Y., particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you could put music to the montage of images showing owners
and players going in and out of meeting rooms and lingering in hallways with cell/smart
phones attached to their ears, Loverboy’s ‘Workin’ for the Weekend’ would be
the suitable selection.
The simple lyrics of the song effects an emotion that many
people reluctantly admit makes them crank the volume up to 10 while driving
home on a Friday afternoon.
The song creates energy and excitement, and gets many people
focused on achieving something – relaxing, partying, even playing hockey
Not only is the song representative of an iconic Canadian
hard rock/pop band’s rise to glory during the early to mid-80’s, it seems that
it also represents a time of great excitement in the NHL that showcased the
Gretzky era in full effect.
They were exciting times indeed.
With the misery that CBA negotiations have laid upon many following them to date possibly ending, and with the thought of a season being salvaged through the positive results of these current meetings, everyone will need the spark to reignite them.
How great would it be to release that energy heading into
the weekend knowing that the NHL hockey season will start soon after?
What better way would there be to get ready for that new
season, than with Loverboy blaring from all points in North America and beyond?
Everyone's watchin' to see what you will do Everyone's lookin' at you, oh Everyone's wonderin' will you come out tonight Everyone's tryin' to get it right, get it right
A cheesy thought yes, but it is a much better option to consider than to continue to read
about endless and unproductive labor negotiations that are about as exciting as watching
an ice rink thaw.
Just imagine the thought of this deal getting done, and allowing
the players to finally‘work for the weekend with everyone watchin’ to see what
they will do.’
Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal hoists the Stanley Cup in 2006 - Grant Halverson, Getty Images
So now the two quarreling sides, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) have gone to counseling.
More sets of ears to hear why the owners continue to lock out the players and deny millions of fans the opportunity to watch the 'best' hockey players in the world compete for the Stanley Cup, and keep thousands of workers in the related industries tied to the game, from earning a living.
Does the power base that maintains control (the owners) continue its reign in completing a third lockout in 18 years and canceling the NHL season again, similar to 2004-2005?
The possibility of the oldest, most storied and recognizable trophy in professional sport not being awarded for only the third time since the NHL (NHA back then) was formed, and the second time in eight years, due to a labor issue such as a lockout, is ludicrous.
The only other time that the Cup was not awarded occurred during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1919 - a much more understandable reason to cancel playing for Lord Stanley's chalice - and they still played four games of the series between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans before they called it off.
Not competing for the Stanley Cup due to a flu epidemic makes sense.
Not competing for the Stanley Cup due to a lockout, doesn't.
---
Recent Carolina Hurricanes Examiner news on Examiner.com:
The National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League
Players’ Association (NHLPA) agreed to allow federal mediators to become
involved with current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
negotiations as announced in New York, N.Y. on Monday.Federal
Mediation...
As of Friday morning, the word coming from various media reports
was that National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner Gary Bettman had
proposed a two-week moratorium on current Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) talks with the National Hockey League
Players'...
Carolina Hurricanes players working out during lockout - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC
With
National Hockey League (NHL) players still working out on their own to
stay in shape anticipating that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement
(CBA) can be worked out between the league and their union, the National
Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), many heads are being still
being scratched as to how it has progressed to 49 days.
It seems that as much as things change with the NHL, they remain the same.
As
much as the league's size, its collective team values, and interest in
the game has increased, the fundamentals of labor operation and
understanding between owners and players remains the same.
The owners call the shots.
"No sport has controlled its athletes as effortlessly and totally as hockey," wrote David Cruise and co-author Allison Griffiths in their 1991 book, 'Net Worth - Exploding the Myths of Pro Hockey'.
That was written 23 years ago and still holds true today during the NHL's third lockout of its players since 1994.
"National
Hockey League owners consist of two basic groups - the Haves and the
Have-Mores. Do not be misled by public utterances during collective
bargaining negotiations. There are no poor owners in the NHL."
That was written back in 1997 - just after the first player lockout in 1994-95.
Decide for yourself who is responsible for the current lockout - it's pretty obvious.
Empower yourself and read more about NHL labor history when you can.
National Hockey League (NHL) owners must be doing very well
financially as their current lockout of players has now extended to 49
full days and counting as of Saturday.What other reason would there be
to completely lock their doors..
