Games Cancelled Thru Jan. 14th, Finland Beats Canada, More...

T.G.I.F. HabsAddicts

Thursday afternoon, the National Hockey League made the long anticipated announcement that games would be cancelled through January 14th, 2013. To date, 625 total games have been cancelled. It's expected that, while the NHL will not admit to it, this may very well be the last set of games cancelled before the entire season is scrapped.

Although NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly affirmed that there would be hockey this season in an interview with Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday, hope continues to dwindle.

Meanwhile, the league and NHL fans await, with angst and trepidation, the results of player voting to decide if the NHLPA will pursue its "disclaimer of interest." Should the union get the necessary 66% support from its members, expect that paper will be filed as earlier as Friday afternoon in the State of California.

Habs and Hockey News and Notes:

- Team Canada lost its first of two preparatory games versus Team Finland on Thursday morning. In a report on TSN.ca, the Fins took advantage of Canada's undisciplined play to give them an early wake up call before the WJHC begins on Boxing Day.

- Montreal Canadiens' top draft choice in 2012, Alex Galchenyuk was held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 overtime victory by Team U.S.A. over Sweden. That said, Habs' General Manager Marc Bergavin assured U.S.A. Hockey that Galchenyuk would remain in Russia regardless of the lockout situation.

- First U.S. President Barrack Obama chimed in, now CBC Sports tell us how Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper admitted that the NHL is treading in dangerous territory in its latest labour dispute.

- Unlike most NHL players, the lockout has only just begun for Habs' winger Rene Bourque, due to an abdominal injury he sustained during the off-season. Stu Cowan of Hockey Inside/out has the details.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of the HabsAddicts out there are very Happy Holiday season, and all the best for a healthy and prosperous 2013. GO HABS GO!!!

Posted in: alex galchenyuk,cba negotiations,cbc,Finland,habs,Marc bergavin,NHL,Obama,Stephen Harper,Stu Cowan,team canada,WJHC