Lord Stanley

[SnotBag]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2036537

Group: Lockout shouldn't stop awarding of Cup
TORONTO -- A group of amateur hockey players is taking the NHL to court to determine whether somebody can play for the Stanley Cup.

The 'Wednesday Nighters' filed a claim in Ontario Superior Court on Wednesday asking it to clarify the terms under which Canadian Governor-General Lord Stanley donated the Cup in 1892. The NHL season was canceled in February amid a labor dispute. "The fact that the NHL has suspended its play this year doesn't mean that Canadians and others don't have the right to compete for the Stanley Cup," said Tim Gilbert, the groups' lawyer. Gilbert said Lord Stanley's intention when he donated the Stanley Cup was to have teams compete for the trophy every year, and a labor dispute shouldn't prevent that from happening.

He hopes the court will force Stanley Cup trustees Brian O'Neill and Ian Morrison to find teams to compete for the Cup. "We do not take this lightly," said Gard Shelley, an amateur hockey player in his mid-50s. "The Stanley Cup is the greatest sports trophy anywhere, ever. It is unique and a huge part of our culture and heritage." The 'Wednesday Nighters' initially offered to play for it themselves -- white jerseys against black -- but eventually decided that competitive teams should play for it. They don't even use goalies in their league.

"This did start off as an amusing idea after Wednesday night hockey one night," amateur David Burt said. "I'm frustrated as most hockey fans are that the NHL and the NHLPA lost the season. I don't know which side of that issue I'm on. I'm just frustrated with the fact that there is no hockey being played. I don't think that's what Lord Stanley intended. I think he had a higher purpose for his donation." Current Canadian Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson suggested in February that if the NHL won't award the Stanley Cup this year, then it should be the top prize in women's hockey. O'Neill declined to comment Wednesday but said the claims would be contested.

In February, O'Neill said there was no legal way the trophy could be awarded for another competition under an agreement with the NHL. He said it would only be possible if the NHL decided it didn't want the Stanley Cup anymore, or if the league went out of business. The 'Wednesday Nighters' application is scheduled to be heard by the court July 18 -- well after the Stanley Cup is usually awarded -- but Gilbert hopes to have the date moved up to sometime in May. This could be just the second time the Stanley Cup isn't awarded. The last was 1919, when a flu epidemic forced the finals to be called off.

[Paelos]

I must agree that the Cup should not stay in the hands of players who didn't play for it this year. I'd like to see an open tournament to determine the winner. That would be SO awesome.

[HaemishM]

This is what happens when you deprive Canadiens of their hockey, they get all litigious.

[WayAbvPar]

I hope they win. Fuck the NHL and the NHLPA in the their stupid asses.

[Paelos]

My hatred is directed squarely on the players. I want replacements next season if they don't get with it. I don't even care about the "star players" anymore. We'll find new ones, so up theirs.

[WayAbvPar]

The owners bear a lot of the blame as well. They are the ones who kept paying escalating salaries, and grossly overexpanded the league (into non-traditional hockey areas like the Sun Belt, no less) just so they could get their grubby hands on the sweet, sweet expansion fees.

However, I lean toward the owners in the current fight, for sure. They are trying to save the sport. A couple of rule changes and some more aggressive refereeing of the current rules would help a bunch. If, you know, they ever play again.

[Paelos]

The owners bear a lot of the blame as well. They are the ones who kept paying escalating salaries, and grossly overexpanded the league (into non-traditional hockey areas like the Sun Belt, no less) just so they could get their grubby hands on the sweet, sweet expansion fees.

However, I lean toward the owners in the current fight, for sure. They are trying to save the sport. A couple of rule changes and some more aggressive refereeing of the current rules would help a bunch. If, you know, they ever play again.

True its not like the owners are blameless, they were just paying up to see the sport continue. It finally hit the fan before they mustered any real backbone when they should have. Still, the players putting their heads in the sand won't make the situation any better, and as an accountant, I've looked over the current deal on the drawing board and it's not at all as bad as the NHLPA makes it out to be.

[Roac]

The owners bear a lot of the blame as well. They are the ones who kept paying escalating salaries

You have to do that as an owner in order to get/retain star players, which are what put fans in the seats, which is what gets you your operating expenses.  Getting OMGWTF rich is also pretty good incentive to draw new talent into the game.  It's not that anyone is really to blame, it's just that this is capitalism at work.

[murdoc]

I blame Gary Bettman. That fucker has ruined the NHL imo.

The product that the NHL was putting on the ice was ridiculous. It's no wonder teams are in financial ruin as salaries escalate and interest declines.

The NHL desperately needs to turf Bettman, get a "hockey" guy in there that has a real interest in the game. Then the league has to scale back, kiss some teams good-bye. With so many teams there's a bunch of players that honestly don't have the talent to play in the NHL. These players are cheap, but they drag the game down as they resort to clutching, grabbing, tackling, slashing, and sucker-punching anyone, anyway they can.

They just have to realise that there just isn't a market for hockey in some areas and instead of forcing their way into them, look at the areas that CAN be successful. Improve the game on the ice and the fans will show up. The fans show up and profits increase. Profits increase and salaries SHOULD reflect that.

It's not only getting a collective bargaining agreement in place, it's imperative that they also fix the game. Make it more entertaining. Make it even more appealing to the fan base that is there. Once you have a smaller, profitable NHL, THEN look into expanding into different markets. Don't expand in the hopes it'll be profitable.

[Strazos]

The product that the NHL was putting on the ice was ridiculous.

I personally always liked watching, regardless of it was a wide-open shootout or a tight defensive game..

clutching, grabbing, tackling, slashing

That's always going to happen to one degree or another.

[MaceVanHoffen]

clutching, grabbing, tackling, slashing

As long as that involves cheerleaders, I'm ok with it.

[murdoc]

I personally always liked watching, regardless of it was a wide-open shootout or a tight defensive game..

There's nothing wrong with a tight defensive game, there is something wrong with having to drag 2 players on your back as you skate down the ice.

[Daeven]

I hope they win. Fuck the NHL and the NHLPA in the their stupid asses.

Denver University won the NCAA hockey tourney a few days ago. Goddam that was a great season of hockey.

Fuck the NHL. Give the Stanley to the Montreal Pee-wee's or something.