A "last-minute compromise" between the IHL and player
reps to "play the season based on the existing" CBA saved
the league from cancelling its opening games on Friday
night, according to the AP. Players in "at least half" of
the league's 16 cities refused to participate in morning
practices or play in games because of a letter sent to the
Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA) on Thursday
stating that the owners "intended to stop paying for
players' off-ice insurance needs until a dispute over
benefits was resolved." Just before Friday's games, the
sides agreed to start the season and negotiate a compromise
while playing. PHPA Dir of Legal and Business Affairs Rich
Evans said that when a "portion" of the league's CBA was re-
opened to "request that owners consider enhancing players'
family benefits," owners "demanded players give up their
pensions." IHL President Doug Moss denied this was the case
and said that the league "asked the players to make certain
concessions in their pension plans in order to help some of
the league's struggling teams survive" (AP, 10/9).
