Hockey League Discussions Continue

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association press on discussing issues in a meeting with a federal mediator on Friday. The process started on Thursday with several meetings and continued into Friday. The League and the Union have not engaged in group meetings while negotiating sessions to come to a Collective Bargaining Agreement on Thursday. There is no word as to whether or not there will be a large-group negotiating session as of yet. Both leagues met with Deputy Director Scot. L. Beckenbaugh of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service on Thursday separately. Representatives from the NHL and NHLPA also attended a meeting together on Thursday to discuss pension and hockey-related revenue issues in among a small group. Two sessions were held on Thursday beginning in the afternoon and the second in the evening. It was also reported that NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr was not present at these meetings. In order to have a standard 2013 season with a minimum of 48 games, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had previously said that games would have to begin January 19th; however the NHL has taken steps to cancel games through January 14th.