BOG ratifies CBA

Wednesday, 09 January 2013 16:21

Written by Shelly Anderson

The NHL board of governors, meeting in New York today, unanimously ratified the collective bargaining agreement that was struck in the early hours Sunday.
The move was expected.
Next is a vote by the players, which is expected to be done electronically Friday and Saturday. League commissioner Gary Bettman said the shortened-season schedule will not be released until that process is complete.
If they approve the CBA, which also is expected, training camps could open Sunday.
The shortened season, probably 48 games, would then open Jan. 19. It's believed the Penguins will open the season that afternoon at Philadelphia.
The NHL season was put on hold by a lockout, which began in mid-September.
At a news conference to announce the owners' ratification, Bettman offered an apology for the work stoppage after what he called a "long and extremely difficult negotiation." He also called talk of an unstable future for his position "unfounded speculation."