OPENING NIGHT IN YOKOHAMA CLOSE TO REALITY FOR NHL

     The NHL is close to finalizing an agreement which will have
the Canucks play the Mighty Ducks in a two-game series in
Yokohama to start the '96-97 season, according to David Shoalts
in today's Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.  Both NHL and NHLPA officials
declined to comment, but Shoalts reports all that remains are
"travel arrangements."  The rationale is simple:  "Money.
Japanese business people are willing to part with lots of it for
sponsorship agreements, and there is a large Japanese, and
ultimately Asian, market to exploit for NHL merchandise."  The
two teams are from the West coast, and the NHL wanted an U.S.-
Canada match-up.  Also, the Mighty Ducks' Paul Kariya is
partially of Japanese descent and is popular in the country
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/14).