Friday, 02 November 2012 15:14

Written by Dave Molinari

The National Hockey League has canceled the 2013 Winter Classic, one of its showcase events, because of the league's ongoing labor dispute.
The game was supposed to match Detroit against Toronto Jan. 1 at Michgan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

League officials say the next Classic will be awarded to Detroit, and will again cast Toronto as the visiting team.

NHL players have been locked out since mid-September, when the league's collective bargaining agreement expired.

There are indications that face-to-face negotiations for a new CBA, which have not taken place during the past two weeks, could resume in the near future, although no session has been announced.

The Penguins participated in the inaugural Winter Classic, at Buffalo in 2008, and played host to the event Jan. 1, 2011, when they faced Washington at Heinz Field.