NHL CONSIDERING TWO-GAME SEASON OPENING SERIES IN JAPAN

     The NHL is considering sending two teams to Japan for a two-
game season-opening series in '96, according to this morning's
L.A. TIMES.  Robin Norwood reports that NHL officials call the
Mighty Ducks "a prime contender" to play in the series because of
Disney's Tokyo theme park and the Japanese descent of star player
Paul Kariya.  Ducks GM Jack Ferreira: "We'd like to do it, and
we've let the league know it."  NHL VP/Public Relations Arthur
Pincus: "We would look to teams on the West Coast first because
of the easier travel and also because of the larger concentration
of Japanese Americans on the West Coast" (L.A. TIMES, 8/15).