NHL labor peace locked in to ’22

National Hockey League players decided not to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement, guaranteeing labor peace until at least 2022.

The NHLPA announced its decision Monday just before the deadline to trigger its opt-out clause. Not terminating the CBA is a positive sign that negotiations are progressing toward an extension.

Meetings between owners and players have been going on since February and recently increased in frequency. The league didn’t opt out of the CBA, with Commissioner Gary Bettman citing momentum and the importance of labor peace overriding the issues owners might have.

Players have bigger issues than owners after making significant concessions in the last CBA agreed to in 2013. Escrow payments, health care, Olympic participation and what qualifies as hockey-related revenue are things players have cited as some of their top concerns.

Colleges: Texas senior WR Collin Johnson, senior C Zach Shackelford and sophomore LB Joseph Ossai likely will play Saturday against Oklahoma State after missing all or part of last weekend’s win over Rice with injuries . ... Alabama junior DE LaBryan Ray will miss at least Saturday’s game against Southern Mississippi with a foot injury . ... LSU junior Todd Harris will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury . ... Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett declined a raise and instead asked for additional compensation for his staff and program improvement. Bennett, 50, earned nearly $6 million last season in leading the Cavaliers to their first national title.

NBA: The Magic exercised their fourth-year, $12.3 million option on G Markelle Fultz, signing him through the 2020-21 season.

Soccer: Manchester United signed goalkeeper David De Gea, 28, of Spain to a new contract that runs through at least 2023. Financial terms weren’t available.

— News services