Sports. Know the score? Contact the editor at sports@theotherpress.ca Back to work? NHL players and owners find common ground By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer o here we are in January, the end of the NHL lock- out. Hands up, everyone who thought it would get this far. For whatever it’s worth, you pessimists were right. Whoop de-freak- ing-doo. Give yourself a pat on the back and then go back to telling everyone how you knew Alexandre Daigle was going to fail. Yes, believe it or not, our multi-millionaire owners and players have finally (tentatively agreed as of this writing) settled ona new collective bargaining agreement. Gary Bettman set January 11" as dooms- day a short while ago, and his warning seems to have worked. It seems that the moneybags are no longer digging in their heels and holding their ground like Spartans at Thermopylae. Or a child who doesn’t want to leave the playground. So what does this new deal entail? For starters, it’ll be a 48-50 game schedule this season with a cap of $70 million. The cap will drop next year to $64.3 million ($44 million being the bottom), but teams will be allowed to buy out two contracts without penalty to help manage their cap situ- ations. Contracts will now be limited to seven years maximum—unless the player is resigning with his current team, in which case he may sign for eight. There Canadian crease The future of goaltending for Team Canada By Elliot Chan, Contributor magine a golfer trying to sink a par three putt ona football field with a game in progress. In a sense, that is what goalies are—indi- viduals playing their own sport in a larger game with all the pressure that nobody notices until they make or break. It is a unique position that requires mental and physical stability and that is what makes it difficult to pinpoint a consistent future for these athletes. Malcolm Subban was the first goalie to be touted as the bona fide number one starter for Team Canada in the World Junior Championship since Carey Price in 2007. Needless to say, quality goaltenders don’t emerge often. Even 20 when one does well in the World Juniors it doesn’t necessarily mean success in the NHL. For example, in 2006 Justin Pogge won the MVP and helped Team Canada capture their twelfth gold medal in the tournament, only to end up being shipped around from Toronto to Phoenix in his professional career without ever achieving the 66 is now a 50/50 revenue split ($300 million to be paid to the union to ease the transi- tion). The new draft lottery system allows 14 teams to have a shot at the top pick. Players will supposedly be allowed to compete in the Olympics. There’s some- thing new about pensions as well, but details are scarce; in any case, the play- ers like it. And last, but not least, the new CBA is for 10 years, granted it has opt-out opportunities after eight. The most humourous part of lockouts for me is when pensions become such a major issue. Yes, I understand pensions are wonderful and everyone wants to have one, and I fully comprehend the desire to have guaranteed money to keep you going in old age. However, most people and World Championship tournaments. With the memories of Roberto Luongo’s 2010 gold medal performance tarnished by his inability to win the Stanley Cup, hockey fans can turn their attention to others remaining on the top notch. Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes has a Stanley Cup ring, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and future for these athletes. same level of accomplish- ment. Few goaltenders are able to savor a lengthy career, but those who do become legends. As Martin Brodeur’s career wanes, all eyes are seeking the new fixture in Canada’s crease for the upcoming Olympics a gold medal from the 2007 World Championships. Marc-André Fleury also has a Stanley Cup ring and was the third string goalie in the 2010 Olympics. Many suspect that it will be his turn to take the helm and solidify his legacy as the starter in Sochi 2014. Finally, don’t, and never will, have pensions. Furthermore, the average citizen isn’t rolling in millions of dollars. The fact that these players feel entitled to additional support after they’ve blown through their substantial earnings is preposterous. Don’t bother quoting the time-wearied argument of “oh, it’s a dangerous game and we’re putting our bodies out on the line” either. Players choose to play this game, and they get compensated gener- ously for it. This isn’t the 1960’s, there’s more than enough money to have an extremely comfortable life. In the end though, call me exceptionally un-Canadian, but I don’t really care about the NHL being back. I’m sick and tired of watching the rich there is heavily ridiculed BC boy Carey Price, famous for mimicking Patrick Roy and telling hometown fans to relax. His stats aren’t as prestigious as the others, but I believe that team Canada would benefit from his fiery attitude. Like any other profes- sion, good consistent per- formance is what sets those who are great from those [tis a unique position that requires mental and physical stability and that is what makes it difficult to pinpoint a consistent who are merely decent. Goaltending is no different. But when it comes down to a one game winner-takes- all, even the best rely on luck. On January 3, 2013, the USA defeated Canada in a 5-1 slaughter at the World Juniors. Subban was pulled after allowing four goals on squabble over disgustingly large amounts of money. The NHL be damned. I can get my hockey fix from other sources if need be. The World Juniors was a delightful breath of fresh air, and junior hockey in general is a fine alternative. Take in a Giants game sometime. Or for that matter, go check out the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL. I’m not sure I’m in any particular hurry to get back to following even our beloved Canucks. As a fan with any sort of self-re- spect, you have to be a bit offended by the total lack of regard shown to you. I'll happily continue my NHL- less life for a time (though my job position may dictate otherwise...), and I hope I wont be the only one. Show some backbone, people. 16 shots during the second period, far from top pros- pect caliber. For now, the Boston Bruins’ draft pick remains a prospect, but with mental and physical con- ditioning, I foresee Subban making a big impact with the Canadian squad for many years to come. Other top goaltend- ing prospects for Team Canada’s future include Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals, Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes, Devan Dubnyk of the Edmonton Oilers, Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jonathan Bernier of the LA Kings, and Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues. The competition for Canada’s crease has never been so openly contested and it’ll be interesting to see who will step up and face the privi- lege of ultimate pressure.