Seventeen different hockey organizations this morning launched a new initiative around the sport's "Declaration of Principles." The various organizations -- which includes the NHL, NHLPA, IIHF, USA Hockey and the NCAA -- pledge to celebrate and advance policies, programs and initiatives that will inspire fans, participants and communities to create the best possible family hockey experience (NHL). Hockey HOFer Pat LaFontaine was on NBC's "Today" to promote the effort and said members of the hockey community have "told us how they feel about the game, how they love the game." The initiative coincides with the 100th anniversary of the NHL, and LaFontaine said the declaration is meant to "support all of those efforts to grow the game and to keep the well-being of the game for the next 100 years.” LaFontaine: “My favorite principle is basically we believe hockey's greatest value is the character and life skills it gives everyone, and hockey is a vehicle to teach those principles and life skills long after the game is over. It means so much to the hockey people and how we play.” NBC's Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie then participated in a shootout with Oilers C Connor McDavid, Rangers D Ryan McDonagh, Blue Jackets D Seth Jones and Golden Knights G Marc-Andre Fleury (“Today,” NBC, 9/6).
