NHLPA, IMG could host SkyDome game

[sahyder1]

NHLPA, IMG could host SkyDome game

TSN.ca Staff with files

6/19/2004

The Toronto Star reports that the NHL Players' Association and sports agency International Management Group (IMG) are in the first stages of planning an exhibition game at Toronto's SkyDome on New Year's Eve if there's a work stoppage next season.

The paper reports that the plan would allow fans to watch Canada's win over the Soviets in Game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series on the Jumbotron, followed by a game between Canadian NHLers and Russian NHL stars.

IMG, which represents NHL stars such as Joe Thornton, Mats Sundin and Jaromir Jagr, is already reported to be looking at staging exhibition games if team owners and players can't reach labour peace with a new collective bargaining agreement.

"We have a couple of interesting projects we are looking into in Europe and North America," J.P. Barry, co-managing director of IMG's hockey division, told the Globe and Mail on Thursday. "We have established relationships around the world in terms of putting together events in Europe and North America, and we have contacts at many arenas because of our connections to the figure-skating world.

"But anything we do will be in conjunction with the NHL Players' Association because any of these events will not be just for our clients, they will be for the entire membership."

During a lockout 10 years ago, Wayne Gretzky formed a team that went on a five-country, eight-game barnstorming tour. Prior to that tour, the NHLPA staged a four-team, four-on-four tournament at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.

Screw the "if there is a lockout" part. They should get this game going either way.

[KRC]

I went and seen that thing in Copps Coliseum and it was alot of fun. It would be neat to see something in a similar fashion done if the lockout was to happen.

[Ananas]

Screw the "if there is a lockout" part. They should get this game going either way.

←

The hockey would be great, but only for the TV viewers. I can imagine how bad it would be for people to watch Hockey at the Dome, they can barely watch stadium sports like football there.