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The following note is being sent to the 22,704 Members of the NHL Fans'
Association.
It's official. Today Gary Bettman announced that NHL players are
locked-out, marking the expiry of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association.
The NHLFA's position on the CBA conflict is our Members clearly want some
form of salary cap or strict luxury tax in place to help control teams from
overspending, which hurts small market teams and ultimately weakens the
overall league. If a short
lock out is necessary to achieve this goal, we support it. If a long lock
out occurs, fans will quickly grow even more disenchanted with both parties
stances and their disregard for "our game".
Furthermore, the NHLFA would like to see negotiations held in private and
for the nasty public relations war to stop. We have encouraged both parties
to engage the services of a third party mediator/arbitrator, but they have
declined to adopt this means to a solution.
The NHLFA has been conducting an exhaustive media campaign over the past few
weeks. The St. Paul Pioneer Press ran a CBA-related story with quotes from
the NHLFA (http://www.nhlfa.com/news/nr09_12_04.asp) and we have been
interviewed on Calgary, Edmonton and Halifax radio programs. Tonight,
Canadian Members can see a CBC National News documentary on the CBA with
NHLFA interviews at 10:30 p.m. EST and Ottawa Members can also catch a news
piece on the New RO. On Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. EST, we will be
interviewed on CTV's Canada A.M. Later in the week we will be interviewed
by SportsNet and CBC Radio's "As it Happens".
Our numbers continue to climb, thanks in large part to the viral marketing
of Members in discussion groups and personal solicitation of family and
friends. Thanks to those of you who have taking a few minutes to spread the
word. You can Tell a Friend about the NHLFA by using this simple form
(http://www.nhlfa.com/send.asp).
Finally, we have received some additional contributions from Members to help
support the Association. Our sincere thanks goes out to those who have made
a contribution. The contributors names are posted at
http://www.nhlfa.com/mvp.asp. This is our final plea for financial help
during this little funding campaign. Please consider sending a cheque or
mail order payable to "NHLFA", 56 Glendenning Dr., Ottawa, ON, CAN, K2H 7Y9.
Some of you suggested we open a PayPal account, allowing us to accept credit
card donations. We have done this and the link to the PayPal site can be
found at http://www.nhlfa.com/2don8.asp
We hope the NHL and NHLPA quickly come to their senses and get a new deal
done.
Sincerely,
Jim Boone
&
Jim Spendlove
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