Report: World Cup of Hockey to be held in 2011

[MacK_Attack 108]

The World Cup of Hockey will return in 2011, and the NHL will continue to open their regular season in Europe according to an ESPN report.

The NHL and the players' association have reportedly reached a compromise on how revenues from those international efforts will be divided.

At this point, it is believed that the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings are among the candidates heading to Europe next fall, with Detroit likely playing in Sweden based on the large number of Swedes in its lineup.

Berlin and Prague, Czech Republic, have been mentioned as possible sites. Helsinki, Finland, which has not hosted the NHL yet, also likely will be on the list.

The agreement is significant because it marked the first major confrontation between the NHL and the NHLPA under new union head Paul Kelly.

The World Cup has been held twice previously. The first was in 1996 and won by the United States, while Canada won the second in 2004.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/01/17/..._hockey_return/

Also, I believe the CBA ends (assuming that the 'PA does not re-open negotiations this spring) on Sept. 15, 2011....so the timing once again is pretty convenient.

Edited January 17, 2009 by MacK_Attack

[Zata fan 40 6]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/01/17/..._hockey_return/

Also, I believe the CBA ends (assuming that the 'PA does not re-open negotiations this spring) on Sept. 15, 2011....so the timing once again is pretty convenient.

Timing it up like last time.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I'm all right with some games being opened up in Europe. The NHL has players from so many countries, and fan bases the same on different continents, never hurts to try to expand the popularity.

[Zata fan 40 6]

They did play some games in Europe during the last World Cup.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

In a pre-game interview with Ron MacLean prior to the HNIC broadcast of the Montreal - Ottawa game, Paul Kelly threw out a figure that 30% of the players in the League are non-North Americans and that the NHLPA see this event as the best place to show their talents.

[joshy207 156]

They did play some games in Europe during the last World Cup.

Correct, the first round of the WCOH has half the games in North America and half in Europe. I think what the OP meant was that the league and the PA agreed to continue scheduling exhibition and regular-season games in Europe.