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SportsSeptember 16, 2004

NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League is locking out its players starting today, threatening to keep the sport off the ice for the entire 2004-05 season and perhaps beyond in an effort by management to gain massive change in the sport's economic structure...

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League is locking out its players starting today, threatening to keep the sport off the ice for the entire 2004-05 season and perhaps beyond in an effort by management to gain massive change in the sport's economic structure.

After the long-expected decision was approved unanimously Wednesday by NHL owners, commissioner Gary Bettman repeatedly belittled the union's bargaining position, talked about the possibility the confrontation could extend into the 2005-06 season and said the conflict has jeopardized the NHL's participation in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

"If there's enough time to play some games, we'll do it," he said of this season, "and if there's not, we won't."

Bettman called it a "bleak day," claimed teams had combined to lose more than $1.8 billion over 10 years and cited bankruptcy filings by teams in Buffalo, Los Angeles, Ottawa and Pittsburgh. He said management will not agree to a labor deal that doesn't include a defined relationship between revenue and salaries.

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"Until he gets off the salary-cap issue, there's not a chance for us to get an agreement," union head Bob Goodenow said in Toronto, adding that players "are not prepared to entertain a salary cap in any way, shape, measure or form."

Far apart on both philosophy and finances, the sides haven't bargained since last Thursday.

St. Louis Blues president Mark Sauer said Wednesday his team fully supports the NHL's decision to lock out players.

"The NHL has the full support of the St. Louis Blues as we take this critical step toward creating a new economic system that will stabilize our club today and in the future," Sauer said in a statement. "The Blues organization apologizes for the inconvenience this necessary action will cause our loyal fans, employees and business partners. We hope to be back on the ice soon."

The lockout lockout means a preseason game scheduled for Sept. 26 in Kansas City has been indefinitely postponed. The Nashville Predators and the Florida Panthers were to play at Kemper Arena.

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