The World Cup, formerly the Canada Cup, has seven games set
for Canada, seven for Europe and five for the U.S., according to
a "preliminary schedule" obtained by the CANADIAN PRESS. The
eight-team tournament is tentatively scheduled to begin August 29
as Canada takes on Russia in Vancover, and Sweden meets Finland
in either Helsinki or Stockholm. The Cup ends with a best-of-
three final starting September 10 in Boston and ending in
Montreal. A final schedule may be finished by next week.
European cities have yet to be decided, and Boston is the only
definite U.S. site with Detroit, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis "vying
for the other two." Canadian sites include Vancouver, Montreal,
Toronto and Ottawa (Alan Adams, CP/Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/1O).
THE COMMISH: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is featured by
the N.Y. TIMES' Robert Lipsyte in his column titled, "Hot under
the collar for the 'Coolest Game.'" Bettman on hockey's future:
"The interest level is huge among kids, it's unchanneled and
untapped, but we won't really see it for five or 10 years, until
they get out of college, buy their own tickets, and take control
of their TV remotes. We are where the NBA was in the 80's."
Lipsyte writes while hockey is a "New World for entertainment
entrepreneurs apparel and equipment marketers, Bettman has to
make sure the natives aren't killed off right away. ... future
profits will come from the family trade in warm climates."
Bettman says Americanization does not mean "gutting" the game,
but instead marketing "around the edges" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/10).
NEWS & NOTES: At a meeting yesterday with NHL Senior VP
Brian Burke, a number of GMs, led by Toronto's Cliff Fletcher and
Chicago's Bob Pulford, expressed displeasure over the removal of
club logos from official game pucks. A few GMs also spoke on the
"perceived inadequacies" of the schedule and suggested clubs
"have greater input" (TORONTO STAR, 11/10)....The lawsuit brought
against the teams and league by five former players charging
collusion could have a "big payoff" (David Shoalts, Toronto GLOBE
& MAIL, 11/10).
