UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, June 18, 1997
13
More American cities to have pro hockey teams
Plan will expand NHL by four
The Associated Press
NEW YORK—The NHL is expanding to two cities currently without a major pro sports team and is giving a second chance to two others where hockey previously flopped.
Nashville, Tenn., and Columbus, Ohio, were the first-time cities to win endorsements yesterday from the NHL's expansion committee. The league also plans a return to Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Each new franchise will cost $80 million.
The plan, which will expand the NHL to 30 teams by 2000, still must be approved by the full Board of Governors on June 25. A three-fourths majority of 26 is required, but that is considered little more than a formality.
Nashville — the only of the four cities with an arena currently considered suitable for major league hockey — would begin play in the 1998-99 season. Atlanta would start
the following season, and Columbus and Minneapolis-St. Paul would join in 2000.
"I am confident that the strength of each of the recommended markets and ownership groups will lead to a successful conclusion of this process," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
As part of the expansion plan, the league and the NHL Players' Association agreed to a four-year extension of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement through September 15, 2004. That also is subject to ratification by the governors and the union.
Losing out in the expansion sweepstakes were Houston and Oklahoma City.
The expansion would give the NHL as many franchises at the turn of the century as the NFL and major league baseball. The NBA has 29 franchises.
The new franchises would mean the league has grown fivefold since 1967, when it doubled in size from
six to 12 teams.
"The expansion committee has worked extremely hard over the past 12 months to formulate an expansion plan that positions the league for significant growth and stability as we head into the next century," Bettman said.
Where it perceives that growth to be is obvious.
By adding four American cities, the league continued a trend away from its Canadian roots. Only six of 30 teams are located north of the border, and in two recent franchise shifts, the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix
Growing cities — particularly in the West and the Sunbelt — have been preferred by the league over Canada. Even the Edmonton Oilers, who had the league's most recent dynasty, are looking to relocate with apparently no prospects of remaining in Canada.
"This has been a very long and, at times, a very difficult process," said Craig Leipold, majority owner of the Nashville team.
Leipold and his partner, Gaylord Entertainment Co., were adamant that they start playing in 1998.
Red Wings' player, masseur remain in coma after accident
The Associated Press
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Vladimir Konstantinov, a star defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings, and the team's masseur remained in critical condition yesterday as authorities investigated the limousine crash that injured the men.
The accident Friday also injured Wings defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, 39, who was in good condition yesterday, Stimmel said. Fetisov could be released soon, she said.
Konstantinov, 30, and Sergei Mnatsakanov, 43, are in comas at William Beaumont Hospital, said hospital representative Colette Stimmel.
The three men were returning from a golf outing six days after
the Red Wings' Stanley Cup championship when the limousine they were riding in crossed two lanes, jumped a curb, careened off a pole and slammed into a tree in suburban Birmingham. Witnesses said the limousine's brakes had not been used.
Birmingham police said Monday that the limousine's driver, Richard Gnida, might have fallen asleep. He was driving with a suspended license, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Police said they hoped to talk soon with Gnida and Fetisov. Police did not return telephone messages yesterday.
The Detroit Free Press, quoting unidentified sources, reported yesterday that Fetisov had told his family that the three passengers had noticed that the driver had appeared to fall asleep. The passengers then screamed to try to wake him, the Free Press said.
Gnida, 28, will be charged for
driving with a suspended license, authorities said. They are looking into other charges.
Gnida, who sustained minor injuries in the accident, was released Sunday.
An investigation by the Michigan State Police has not turned up any mechanical problems. Authorities said there was no evidence that alcohol or drugs had played a role
Gnida's driving license had been revoked because of a bad driving history, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Since 1994, Glida had been ticketed for driving under the influence and twice for speeding, according to state records.
Late Monday, police cleared the accident site of Red Wings memorabilia and told some Red Wings fans keeping vigil nearby to leave. The Oakland Press of Pontiac reported yesterday that police said the shrine was a hazard and had caused five accidents in two days.
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