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Leagues and Governing Bodies

BETTMAN AND FOUR OWNERSHIP REPS MAKE THEIR CASE IN OTTAWA

          NHL execs "received a warm reception from Liberal MPs
     yesterday when they met to discuss government assistance to
     Canadian pro hockey franchises," according to Nick Forster
     of the OTTAWA CITIZEN.  MPs met with NHL Commissioner Gary
     Bettman, Senators Chair Rod Bryden, Maple Leafs President
     Ken Dryden, Flames Vice Chair Harley Hotchkiss and Canadiens
     President Ronald Corey.  MP Alex Shepard "said the Liberals
     were interested in keeping the sport alive in Canada and
     will 'make recommendations both to the cabinet and to the
     prime minister'" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 3/26).  In Ottawa, Steve
     Erwin writes that NHL "heavy hitters took their best shot in
     a plea for tax concessions," but "whether they came away
     with enough support to sway cabinet into action remains
     unclear."  Bettman: "We had a very good dialogue and the
     process continues."   Industry Minister John Manley did not
     attend the meeting, but said the government is still
     formulating "an appropriate response" (OTTAWA SUN, 3/26).
     Bettman, on Bryden saying he will relocate his franchise if
     there is no tax relief: "I have no reason to believe that
     Rod doesn't mean it."  Manley: "I think that hockey is
     important to Canadians, I've said that we will look at it,
     we're doing so.  They make a compelling case, we don't want
     to lose teams from Canada if Canadians think it's important.
     ... but we're not yet at the point of saying that we're the
     answer to that problem."  On Thursday, Reform Party Leader
     Preston Manning said he will not support tax relief for
     teams.  Manning: "It's not just hockey teams that are
     leaving Canada, it's young people and other companies that
     are leaving Canada as well" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/26).
          A BALANCE: Ken Dryden said that the issue for Canadian
     clubs is more than "survival," and that teams must be able
     to be financially competitive.  He noted that Canadian teams
     won the Stanley Cup nine times in the '60s, six times in the
     '70s, six times in the '80s, but "only twice" in the '90s. 
     Dryden: "Does it matter that Canadian teams not only
     survive, but also compete for a Stanley Cup?"  But Dryden
     "conceded that the Maple Leafs are not interested in seeing
     a revenue-sharing system ... because of the different costs
     of the franchises" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/26).  Dryden: "There is
     a distinction to be made between survival and being highly
     competitive."  In Toronto, Tim Harper writes that Dryden
     "appeared to raise the stakes yesterday," but that Manley
     "appeared unmoved" (TORONTO STAR, 3/26). 
          CALGARY DRAFT: In Calgary, George Johnson notes sources
     stating that the NHL's 2000 Entry Draft will be held at the
     Canadian Airlines Saddledome.  An official announcement
     could come this morning.  Estimates have the draft having an
     economic impact of more than C$4M (CALGARY SUN, 3/26).

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