The National Hockey League's (NHL) Board of Governors ratified the terms of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) as announced in a press release and during a press conference held at the Westin Times Square in New York, N.Y. on Wednesday.
Jeremy Jacobs, owner of the Boston Bruins and Chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, made the following statement about the owners’ vote to agree to the new deal with the players’ union:
"On behalf of the National Hockey League's Board of Governors, I am pleased to report that today we unanimously voted to ratify a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Hockey League Players' Association. Which means, to our fans all around the globe, hockey is back.”
Commissioner apologizes
During the scheduled press conference that followed the BOG meeting to vote in support of the new CBA, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made the following statement:
"To the players, who were very clear they wanted to be on the ice and not negotiating labor contracts - to our partners, who support the League financially and personally – and most importantly, to our fans who love and have missed NHL hockey: I am sorry,” Bettman said.
“I know that an explanation or an apology will not erase the hard feelings that have built up over the past few months, but I owe you an apology, nevertheless. As Commissioner of the National Hockey League, it sometimes falls upon me to make tough decisions that disappoint and occasionally anger players and fans. This was a long and extremely difficult negotiation - one that took a lot longer than anybody wanted. I know it caused frustration, disappointment, and even suffering to a lot of people who have supported the National Hockey League in many different ways. In the end, neither side got everything it wanted, and everyone lost in the short-term. But the NHL gained a long-term agreement that's good for the players and good for the teams, and should guarantee the future success of NHL hockey for many years to come. It will help the game to grow, ensuring greater economic stability for all of our teams.”
Details of the new CBA will be made available following completion of the formal ratification process by the members of the NHLPA, which is expected to take place by Saturday.
Camps and games to start soon
Only when both sides have ratified and agreed to the new CBA will individual team training camps be allowed to start, which could happen as early as Sunday.
In addition, the league will then release its regular season schedule which is anticipated to be between 48-50 games in length.
“As soon as the ratification process is complete and we sign the CBA, we will release the schedule instantaneously – assuming it's done, and it should be,” Bettman said.
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