| It should be the start of the NHL hockey league | | | | in all probability, there will be no hockey season this |
| 2004-2005 season but it's not happening. The sports | | | | year. |
| arenas across North America are quiet. There are no | | | | It's for certain that no games will be played in October |
| piercing sounds of whistles, no scraping sounds of | | | | or November for that matter. As for December, even |
| hockey skate blades digging into the ice or pucks being | | | | if the sides come to some agreement, December will |
| slammed into the boards. The television crews | | | | most likely be used for training and the earliest a game |
| normally setting up to televise the games are nowhere | | | | can be played would be January. |
| in sight. The NHL hockey players, coaches, and TV | | | | What are the players doing? 200 of them (1/4) are |
| crews are off doing something else this season. | | | | currently in Europe playing hockey. Their contracts |
| And there is no sign of NHL hockey coming back any | | | | have out clauses which mean that if the NHL starts up |
| time soon. The owners and the players are on | | | | again, they will return to North America to play here. |
| opposite sides of the spectrum and there have been | | | | And if you are a die hard fan needing to see a hockey |
| no talks since September 9, 2004. No further talks | | | | game, the minor hockey leagues are up and running in |
| have been scheduled. The longer the impasse | | | | the smaller towns and are happy to have you come |
| continues, the greater the blackout will carry on. Hence, | | | | out and see them play. |