NHL finalizes return plan, extends CBA
Hockey became the latest sport to finalize a return after NHL owners and players approved an agreement Friday to resume the season — and with it an assurance of labor peace through September 2026.
Games are scheduled to begin Aug. 1 in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, with coronavirus cases in the U.S. pushing the league into Canada for the summer and fall until the Stanley Cup is awarded in late September or early October.
Training camps open across North America on Monday, which is also the deadline for players to opt out of participating with no penalty.
“I don’t think you’re going to see a lot of players saying I don’t want to go,” Minnesota forward Zach Parise said. “If one of my teammates says they don’t want to go, you respect their decision for whatever reason. We all want to keep our families safe.”
The return-to-play plan, tentatively approved by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association on Monday, was ratified by the league’s board of governors and with majority approval from players following a three-day voting period, ending Friday. Along with it, the two sides also formally approved a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement.
The 12 Eastern Conference teams will play in Toronto and the 12 West teams in Edmonton, with home-rink advantages for the Maple Leafs and Oilers conceded in a nod to television preferences. And for the first time in league history, there will be an unusual final four in Edmonton to settle a championship later than ever before with ramifications pushing back the start of next season to December or even as late as January.
Action will begin on Aug. 1.
Colleges: The Pac-12 has become the second major conference to shift to a conference-only fall schedule amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement came after a meeting of the Pac-12 CEO Group on Friday, a day after the Big Ten opted to eliminate nonconference games for all fall sports. The Atlantic Coast, Big 12 and Southeastern conferences are still weighing options for fall sports.
Golf: Collin Morikawa, who missed his first cut as a pro last week, might be tough to catch at the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. Morikawa ran off four straight birdies after making the turn and shot a 6-under 66 in the second round. At 13-under 131 entering the weekend, Morikawa has a three-shot lead with a group of players unable to complete the second round. There were two 75-minute storm delays earlier in the day. The Memorial will be played on the same course next week but with a tougher setup.
Also: World champion short-track speed skater Lara van Ruijven died Friday as a result of complications from an autoimmune reaction, the Netherlands skating association said. Van Ruijven was 27.