NEWS AND NOTES FROM UP NORTH AS CRUNCH TIME APPROACHES

     CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" (HNIC) is planning a Stanley
Cup site on the Internet.  However, William Houston notes that
"huge negotiations" must take place before the site is complete.
HNIC want to include schedules, replays, updated statistics
analysis and player profiles, but Houston writes that
rebroadcasting "could be a major obstacle."  Molstar owns those
rights in Canada (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/12).  Also in Toronto, Rob
Longley notes the threat of a strike or lockout at CBC has some
at HNIC worried about playoff coverage.  One insider said in the
event of a labor stoppage, "there is a way to do it with the
Molstar connection" and that "the games would get on."  Longley
notes TSN officials would look at televising the playoffs should
it become impossible on CBC (TORONTO SUN, 4/12).