A new poll released yesterday "suggests a large number
of Canadians agree" that the government should help support
the country's six NHL teams, according to Steve Erwin of the
OTTAWA SUN. In a Decima Poll of 2,000 Canadians, conducted
March 3-14, almost 40% of respondents supported government
action in "easing the tax crunch facing" the six teams. In
Ottawa, respondents were 43% in favor, but support was
"strongest in the west," with 50% in Edmonton and 45% in
Calgary backing government aid. About 42% of Toronto
residents favored aid, but "only 34% of Montrealers"
supported such assistance. While the numbers show no
"majority of agreement," it "confirms" that Senators Chair
Rod Bryden has been "effective in drawing support" for
Canada's teams. Bryden said yesterday, "I think people are
becoming more and more aware of the issue" (OTTAWA SUN,
3/25). NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and four Canadian team
reps will appear before the Economic Development Committee
of the Liberal Caucus today in Ottawa (THE DAILY).
IN SEARCH OF....: The NATIONAL POST's Alan Adams
reports that the FBI and the NHL security office are
"investigating alleged links between the Russian mafia" and
Vitaly Shevchenko, the new agent for Sharks D Andrei Zyuzin.
Zyuzin "remains suspended from the Sharks without pay after
missing the team flight to Boston on Friday." Sources say
Zyuzin has paid Shevchenko $38,000 in fees and "has given
him power of attorney over all his matters." Shevchenko is
not certified by the NHLPA, as he "lost his certification by
failing to pay his dues." The Sharks haven't had contact
with either of the two, as teams are prohibited from dealing
with agents who are not certified (NATIONAL POST, 3/25).
