NHL season to begin Oct. 11

Posted on Jun 21, 2012 in Sports | 0 comments

Barring labor issues, the National Hockey League will open its 2012-13 season with four games Oct. 11.

The collective bargaining agreement between NHL team owners and their players” association expires in September. The NHL will be trying to avoid a labor battle such as the one that cost the league the entire 2004-05 season.

If the league does begin its season as planned on Oct. 11, the first four games will feature Boston at Philadelphia, Ottawa at Montreal, St. Louis at Colorado and Vancouver at Calgary.

The Los Angeles Kings, who won their first Stanley Cup June 11, are to begin their title defense at home Oct. 12 against the New York Rangers.

The NHL said the Toronto Maple Leafs will play the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 1, 2013, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Winter Classic.

The regular season is scheduled to end April 13, 2013.

Copyright 2012 by United Press International