NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (L) and True North Sports and Entertainment Chairman Mark Chipman attend a news conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 31, 2011. Canada reclaimed one of its lost NHL franchises on Tuesday when the Atlanta Thrashers were sold to True North Sports and Entertainment and relocated to Winnipeg, triggering wild celebrations in the Prairie city.
Photograph by: Fred Greenslade, Reuters
NEW YORK — The NHL has officially rubber-stamped the league’s seventh Canadian franchise.
The National Hockey League’s board of governors announced Tuesday that it has approved the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd., and its subsequent relocation of the franchise to Winnipeg.
“We deeply regret that Atlanta’s ownership was unable to secure local partners after exhausting every option and alternative,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “At the same time, we are delighted that NHL hockey is returning to Winnipeg and to a fan base that already is showing so much support for its team.”
The purchase agreement was completed earlier this month, and the Winnipeg group, which has yet to name the team, sold out 13,000 season tickets in less than 20 minutes when they were made available to the general public.
“We are very honoured by the NHL board of governors unanimous decision today,” said True North chairman of the board Mark Chipman. “We know that the fans of this province have an appetite for NHL hockey that is rivalled by few in the league and intend to work very hard to make Manitobans proud of our franchise for years to come.”
The league also confirmed that Winnipeg will continue to play in the league’s Southeast Division for 2011-12, along with Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay and Washington.
Divisional realignment will take place prior to the 2012-13 season.
The board of governors also approved wording changes to rules relating to boarding and illegal to checks to the head.
The change in the boarding call allows for referee discretion in determining whether the player who was hit put himself in a vulnerable position prior to the hit, and it also requires the player making the check to minimize or avoid hitting the opponent if he is in a defenceless position.
With head hits, the words “lateral or blind side” have been taken out of the rule, meaning a penalty will be called for a hit that results in contact with a players’ head where the head is targeted and where it is the main point of contact.
The National Hockey League’s board of governors announced Tuesday that it has approved the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd., and its subsequent relocation of the franchise to Winnipeg.
“We deeply regret that Atlanta’s ownership was unable to secure local partners after exhausting every option and alternative,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “At the same time, we are delighted that NHL hockey is returning to Winnipeg and to a fan base that already is showing so much support for its team.”
The purchase agreement was completed earlier this month, and the Winnipeg group, which has yet to name the team, sold out 13,000 season tickets in less than 20 minutes when they were made available to the general public.
“We are very honoured by the NHL board of governors unanimous decision today,” said True North chairman of the board Mark Chipman. “We know that the fans of this province have an appetite for NHL hockey that is rivalled by few in the league and intend to work very hard to make Manitobans proud of our franchise for years to come.”
The league also confirmed that Winnipeg will continue to play in the league’s Southeast Division for 2011-12, along with Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay and Washington.
Divisional realignment will take place prior to the 2012-13 season.
The board of governors also approved wording changes to rules relating to boarding and illegal to checks to the head.
The change in the boarding call allows for referee discretion in determining whether the player who was hit put himself in a vulnerable position prior to the hit, and it also requires the player making the check to minimize or avoid hitting the opponent if he is in a defenceless position.
With head hits, the words “lateral or blind side” have been taken out of the rule, meaning a penalty will be called for a hit that results in contact with a players’ head where the head is targeted and where it is the main point of contact.
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