Below are stories in the SendtoNews archives that indicate Hockey as their primary category:
Hockey is a fast-paced physical sport popular throughout Europe and North America and particularly in Canada. Although the game was traditionally played outdoors on frozen ponds, it is now played almost exclusively in indoor arenas with the exception of a select few outdoor events such as the Winter Classic and Heritage Classic annual outdoor games. There are many different hockey leagues throughout the world but the most popular leagues with the highest degree of talent are the National Hockey League (NHL), the American Hockey League (AHL), the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), the Elitserien or Swedish Elite League (SEL) and Finland's SM-Liiga. Major-junior hockey is also very popular throughout Canada with the three junior leagues, the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) together forming the world's largest junior hockey program, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
The current 2012-13 season could become one of the most pivotal years in the history of hockey due to the current lockout that has put a hold on the NHL season. With the NHL currently locked out, the other major hockey leagues are benefitting from an influx of all-star talent as NHL players are looking for a place to play while labor negotiations continue. The KHL, considered the rival league of the NHL and the second best hockey league in the world, is more than happy to welcome home Russian superstars such as Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk along with a strong cast of non-Russian players such as Nicklas Backstrom and Zdeno Chara. The other European leagues have also seen a steady influx of NHLers joining although some leagues, such as the SEL, have placed restrictions to limit the amount of NHL players allowed to join each team.
Although most NHL superstars have taken their talents overseas or decided to take the time off, it is the AHL that could be the biggest beneficiary of the ongoing lockout. With many North American hockey-starved fans craving professional hockey in their own markets and time-zones, the AHL is poised to have a breakout year. As the primary development league for the NHL, the AHL has recently seen young NHL stars such as Taylor Hall, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jordan Eberle join their respective farm teams in the AHL, boosting the league's overall talent considerably. Furthermore, with the absence of the NHL, the AHL is currently the only professional hockey league in North America and many die-hard NHL fans are following the league more closely than ever to track the progress of their favorite team's young players and prospects.
