U.S. President Barack Obama poses with a team jersey as he welcomes the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup champions Boston Bruins to the East Room of the White House in Washington, January 23, 2012. (REUTERS)
The plight of National Hockey League fans hasn't been lost on U.S. President Barack Obama.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Obama offered his opinion on the league's labour dispute.
"I just want to remind the owners and the players: you guys make money because you've got a whole bunch of fans out there who are working really hard. They buy tickets. They're watching on TV," Obama said. "Y'all should be able to figure this out. Get this done."
The NHL will have to take the knife to its schedule.
Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Wednesday to reporters in New York the league won't have a labour deal in place by Thursday's deadline to salvage an 82-game schedule.
While the league had hoped to open training camp Saturday and have the schedule start Nov. 2, the two sides can't even agree to meet to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement. Unless the NHL Players' Association or the NHL backs off in its stance the stalemate will continue.
