Wednesday May 13, 1998 Canadian trade expert says U.S. teams unfairly subsidized
OTTAWA -- An international trade expert Tuesday urged the Canadian government to investigate whether subsidies given to NHL teams in the United States might violate the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Appearing before a parliamentary subcommittee studying the state of sports in Canada, Barry Appleton said Canada's six NHL clubs could use NAFTA to challenge hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies given to U.S. clubs by local and state governments.
The Toronto-based lawyer said the Canadian government has failed to use sections of the trade deal to prod Washington to compensate Canada's NHL teams.
"When it comes to softwood lumber, salmon, automobiles or steel we have no hesitation about getting in there," he said. "When it comes to our national sport, why aren't we doing that?"
Senior executives of several Canadian pro teams have told the subcommittee over the past few weeks that they have trouble competing because U.S. teams are given tax breaks, new arenas and other incentives.
"All I care about is that Canada's sports community is treated fairly," said Appleton.
John Klassen, the director general for trade policy with the Department of International Trade, also appeared before the committee. He wasn't swayed by Appleton's 25-page presentation.
He offered to have department lawyers study the complicated section on investments referred to by Appleton and other aspects of the deal, but held out little expectation that Canada would raise the matter with Washington.
"We have some differences of view on whether or not there is a solid case here under NAFTA. Our lawyers haven't really looked at this in great detail," Klassen said.
Tuesday May 12, 1998 Johnson snubbed from Calder ballot
Rookie Mike Johnson was left off the list of finalists for the Calder Trophy, given annually to the league's top first-year player. Boston's Sergei Samsonov, New Jersey's Patrick Elias and Vancouver's Mattias Ohlund are the finalists.
"The other three guys had very good years," Johnson said. "Sergei and I tied for most points (47), so on that basis you might think I had a chance. But the other guys had more goals and are younger than me."
"It shocks me a bit," coach Mike Murphy said. "He has been a speedy, reliable player for us."
Sunday May 10, 1998 Leafs pick eight in draft
NEW YORK -- The Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished last during the regular season, will get the first pick in the NHL entry draft after winning a lottery Sunday.
The Lightning had the best chance (28 percent) of acquiring the rights to the No. 1 selection in the June 27 draft in Buffalo, N.Y. And they did so despite not even winning the lottery. The Lightning received the right to select first as the result of two earlier trades involving San Jose and Florida. The Panthers actually won the lottery but had previously dealt their first-round pick.
The San Jose Sharks will go second and the expansion Nashville Predators third.
Vancouver will draft fourth, followed by Anaheim, Calgary, the New York Rangers, Toronto, New York Islanders, Chicago and Carolina.
The lottery affects only those teams that finished out of the playoffs, plus the newest expansion entry.
Tampa Bay will get first crack at center Vincent Lecavalier, rated No. 1 among draft-eligible prospects. Center David Legwand is rated No. 2.
San Jose and Nashville had the same chance of gaining the No. 2 selection.
Here is the full draft order:
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (from San Jose/Florida)
2. San Jose Sharks (from Tampa Bay)
3. Nashville Predators
4. Vancouver Canucks
5. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
6. Calgary Flames
7. New York Rangers
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
9. New York Islanders
10. Chicago Blackhawks
11. Carolina Hurricanes
12. Colorado Avalanche (from San Jose)
13. Edmonton Oilers
14. Phoenix Coyotes
15. Ottawa Senators
16. Montreal Canadiens
17. Colorado Avalanche (from Los Angeles)
18. Buffalo Sabres
19. Colorado Avalanche (from Boston)
20. Colorado Avalanche (from Washington)
21. Los Angeles (from Colorado)
22. Philadelphia Flyers
23. Pittsburgh Penguins
24. St. Louis Blues
25. Detroit Red Wings
26. New Jersey Devils
27. Dallas Stars
The Maple Leafs will get the eighth pick in the NHL entry draft after the Lightning won a lottery on Sunday
Tursday May 7, 1998 Gardens to go public
Maple Leaf Gardens will not go dark when the Maple Leafs move into a new downtown arena in 1999. Club president Ken Dryden said Wednesday he wants the 87-year-old arena to survive as a neighborhood rental rink, augmented eventually by a professional or junior tenant.
"We want to make it more of a hockey place than it has ever been, for minor players, old-timers, women ... everybody," Dryden said. "That's our operating principle right now. The question is: how do we do it?
"It's not going to survive as a memory. This way, a lot of people who never got to see it can make use of it."
The Air Canada Centre is scheduled to open in February 1999.
Sunday May 3, 1998 Prochazka leads Czech Republic
ZURICH, Switzerland -- Defending champion Canada narrowly averted embarrassment Sunday at the World Ice Hockey Championships on Sunday, as Keith Primeau's late goal tied Slovakia 2-2.
Meanwhile, Martin Prochazka had two goals and an assist as the Olympic champion Czech Republic beat Belarus 4-2 in a Group A game in Basel to clinch a second-round berth.
Slovakia expected to provide the toughest challenge to Canada in the B-Group round-robin, which also includes Austria and Italy.
But not quite so serious a threat.
Defenseman Rob Blake blasted one in from the slot at 14:12 of the second period to give Canada a 1-0 lead. But Robert Svehla answered for Slovakia at 7:44 into the third period.
The Slovaks then took the lead when Jozef Dano knocked a rebound through the legs of Canadian netminder Jeff Hackett at 11:53.
But Primeau scored on a scramble in front of the Slovak goal with four minutes later on a power play goal.
While Canada welcomed Blake and L.A. Kings teammate Glen Murray onto the squad, for a moment it appeared the team might lose one of its key players, when veteran Nelson Emerson was run into the boards and suffered a concussion four minutes into the first period. The Carolina Hurricanes forward recovered sufficiently to return to the bench next period, but will require further examination by team doctors.
Ladislav Lubina and David Vyborny scored the other goals for the Czechs, who are 2-0 after routing Japan 8-2 in the opener. Belarus is 1-0-1 after a 4-2 win over Germany in their opener.
Thursday April 30, 1998 Leafs to let Clark test free agency
The Maple Leafs will let veteran Wendel Clark test the free agent market. Mike Smith, Toronto's associate general manager, said the Leafs will make no attempt to sign the left winger before July 1 when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Smith said whether or not the Leafs offer Clark a contract will depend on the condition of his surgically repaired groin.
"He has two to three months of rehabilitation ahead," Smith told the Toronto Star. "Until he gets done with that, we won't know how he is physically. Our conversations with Wendel will depend on how healthy he is."
Tuesday April 28, 1998 Canada's NHL teams seek political help
TORONTO -- Making an unusual foray into politics, National Hockey League executives Tuesday told a parliamentary subcommittee that Canada's six teams need tax breaks and other financial boosts to compete with U.S.-based franchises. It is the first time Parliament has focused on Canada's No. 1 sports passion since NHL teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg left for new homes in the United States in 1995 and 1996.The subcommittee, which is taking a broad look at professional and amateur sports, plans to issue recommendations this fall. Its hearing Tuesday in Ottawa featured a high-powered NHL delegation led by Commissioner Gary Bettman and top officials of the six Canadian teams.They repeatedly contended that three factors were threatening the viability of Canadian franchises -- the weakness of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar, a relatively high tax burden, and the greater willingness of U.S. local governments to offer public financing for sports facilities.
Unless Canada addresses these factors, Bettman said, "hockey at its highest level will not be able to thrive as we think it should."
Harley Hotchkiss, president of the Calgary Flames and chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, bleakly recounted how his team has plummeted from a Stanley Cup winner to a struggling loser. "Looking ahead over the next five years," he said, "it will be very difficult for the Flames to compete or perhaps even to survive."
Public opinion polls repeatedly have indicated that most Canadians oppose government subsidies for professional sports, but Bettman argued that pro hockey should at least be treated equally with other industries.
"A number of Canadian industries -- television, film, aerospace, technology to name a few -- have benefited and thrived in Canada working in partnership with government entities to everyone's mutual benefit," he said.
The Ottawa Senators asked the subcommittee to consider giving Canadian teams tax breaks so they can compete with U.S. teams that play in publicly financed arenas.
"We cannot continue to pay for public facilities with private money," said Senators chairman Rod Bryden. He said it was "absurd" that the team had to pay for a highway interchange near its suburban arena.
Ronald Corey, president of the Montreal Canadiens, proposed the creation of a joint NHL-parliamentary task force to study the problems.
"Hockey cannot be taken for granted," he said. "It has always been a part of our life, but the world is always changing."
Corey said the Canadiens pay more in municipal taxes than all 20 U.S.-based teams combined.
Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goalie who is now president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, said hockey -- even though increasingly challenged by others sports and entertainment options -- continues to hold a unique place in Canadian society.
"It is important for the Canadian people, for dreams and bonds and commons stories for new generations, that Canadian teams win the Stanley Cup -- at least some of the time," Dryden said.
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