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Players And Refs Go On Strike

Sutter Brothers' Jerseys
Four of Six Sutter Bros. Hit the Ice
Never in the history of the NHL had a brother act taken on the dimension of the Sutter boys from Viking, Alberta. In 1980-81, no less than four Sutters suited up for action, including Brian (St. Louis), Darryl (Chicago), Duane (Islanders), and Brent (briefly with the Isles). In 1982-83, two more Sutters-twins Rich and Ron-entered the NHL, giving the league another first: six brothers playing in the league simultaneously.

Isles Fall One Miracle Short On Way To Cup

When the New York Islanders entered the NHL in 1972-73, an automatic rivalry with the cross-county New York Rangers began immediately. In addition to paying a handsome entrance fee, the new franchise was milked by the Rangers for further millions to cover territorial and television indemnity. Islanders owner Roy Boe resented the costs, but he had little choice but to pay through the nose.

The animosity was further aggravated by the Rangers' artistic dominance. The Broadway Blueshirts were one of the most powerful clubs in the NHL through the early 1970s and regularly trashed the Islanders at Madison Square Garden, as well as at the Islanders' Nassau Coliseum. When the Islanders made the playoffs in 1974-75, for the first time ever, they faced the Rangers in a best-of-three opening round. Most observers expected the series to be a two-game sweep for the Rangers, but it wasn't to be.

Game 1 at the Garden began as expected, and after two periods the home club had built a 2-0 lead. But the Islanders struck back with goals by Billy Harris and Jean Potvin and it was a fresh hockey game. Then, with six-plus minutes remaining, the Isles' Clark Gillies wristed one off the goalpost and into the net. The Islanders held strong and came away with the biggest win of their existence.

Game 2 at Nassau Coliseum was a penalty-filled affair that the Rangers won big, 8-3, to regain the momentum going back to the Garden. In the first two periods of Game 3, the visitors from Uniondale piled up a 3-0 lead, and 17,500 Rangers fans seemed prepared to throw in the towel. But Emile Francis' skaters still had the blood lust. They probed for Islander soft spots and found one when Bill Fairbairn beat Isles goalie Billy Smith.

Still, the Islanders led 3-1 as time ticked away. But at 13:27 of the third period, Fairbairn again beat Smith. And then, with just 14 seconds to go, Steve Vickers pumped the puck past Smith and the game was tied 3-3. Rangers fans went nuts as the game entered sudden-death. Sudden-death, though, was more sudden than anyone expected. Off the opening faceoff the puck was sent behind the Rangers' net and retrieved by Islander Jude Drouin. Drouin passed it to an open J.P. Parise, who deflected the rubber past goaltender Ed Giacomin for the winning goal.

The Islanders had won the game 4-3 and the series 2-1. More than that, the three-year-old club was quickly thrust to the top of the heap. The Isles had earned the title "Hockey Kings of New York." The Islanders proceeded to lose the first three games of their next series to Pittsburgh, but they rallied to win the next four and move on to the semifinals against Cup champion Philadelphia. Once again, the Isles lost the first three and won the next three, but this time they couldn't pull off the miracle comeback. The Flyers took Game 7 4-1, advanced to the Finals, and defeated Buffalo in six games for their second straight Stanley Cup.

WHA Finally Dissolves; NHL Absorbs Four Teams

When the Houston Aeros dropped out of the World Hockey Assocation before the 1978-79 season began, the maverick league was down to seven teams and struggling to stay afloat. But those who believed it would go under misjudged the young league's creativity and the NHL's obtuseness.

While the senior league twiddled its thumbs over what to do about 17-year-old phenom Wayne Gretzky (league rules didn't permit teams to sign kids under age 18), the WHA quickly grabbed the future Great One. He started out with Indianapolis, was soon dealt to Edmonton, and in no time at all established himself as pure gold on skates. Gretzky was so good that he deflected attention from the WHA's fiscal problems, and his presence in the rival league inspired the NHL to step up peace talks.

With that in mind, high-level meetings between officials of both leagues were held throughout the 1978-79 season, a year that was captivating on both sides. In the NHL, Montreal drove hard for a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup while a new threat emerged in New York. The Islanders had developed an imposing squad featuring Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Mike Bossy, and Clark Gillies.

The Gretzky-led Oilers topped the WHA, although Quebec - paced by Real Cloutier - was a strong second. The Nordiques were followed by Winnipeg and New England, which boasted the father-and-sons team of Gordie, Mark, and Marty Howe.

The Islanders finished first overall, a point ahead of Montreal in the NHL's regular-season race. But the Isles suffered a stunning defeat when the Rangers defeated them in a six-game playoff matchup, an upset that put the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals against Montreal. The Finals were a lot closer than they appeared on paper, but the Canadiens prevailed in five games and skated off with their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.

In the WHA playoffs, Gretzky led all scorers with 10 goals and 20 points, but it was Winnipeg that won the Avco Trophy. The Jets ousted the favored Oilers four games to two in the championship round. While all this was happening, merger talks had progressed so far that league consolidation seemed inevitable.

In fact, the NHL and WHA set June 15, 1979, as a deadline for signing a merger/expansion agreement. What the NHL hoped to gain was a huge influx of cash, the return of defected players, and peace in the new decade. All that remained was approval by the players, and on June 9, 1979, the NHL Players' Association ratified the merger which, for legal and egotistical reasons, the NHL called an "expansion."

Quebec, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and New England (which would now be known as Hartford) were accepted for the 1979-80 season. Cincinnati, Birmingham, and Indianapolis were left to find minor-league affiliations for themselves. Meanwhile, with an infusion of $24 million from the four expansion clubs, the NHL embarked on a new era, which, it hoped, would accent peace and prosperity.

Campbell Conference Finals
Vernon Pops Blues' Balloon in Cup Semis
As if the life of a goalie wasn't tough enough already, Calgary netminder Mike Vernon had to combat both the point-blank attack of St. Louis winger Doug Wickenheiser (#14) as well as the distraction of a beach ball, which had been hurled on the ice at St. Louis Arena during the 1986 Stanley Cup semifinals. The Flames took the series as Vernon won a Game 7 goalies battle, 2-1, over Blues netminder Rick Wamsley.

Gretzky Tips, Wobbles, And Wishes In 92 Goals

Throughout NHL history, the idea of a hockey player scoring more than 90 goals in a season seemed preposterous. Ridiculous. No way. That is, until Wayne Gretzky matured as a scoring machine in 1981-82. A year earlier, he had tallied a league-leading 164 points on 55 goals and 109 assists. Some figured Gretzky might someday reach 65 goals in a year, or even 70. But in 1981-82, the dice rolled perfectly for the Great One.

Teamed with Finnish star Jari Kurri, Gretzky catapulted to the top of the scoring pack early and sprinted far ahead of even Mike Bossy, who would finish with 64 goals. Gretzky's touch was unfathomable. He scored his 50th goal in his 39th game, making a mockery of the mythical 50-in-50 feat achieved by Rocket Richard and by Mike Bossy one year earlier. "After 35 games," said Gretzky, "I had 38 goals. But the pucks get bigger and the net smaller as the season wears on. But right then, just before the All-Star break, all heaven broke loose. Pucks started going into the net on their own. I'd tip 'em in, bounce 'em in, wobble 'em in, elbow 'em in, wish 'em in. No matter what I tried, they kept finding their way past goaltenders. "In one stretch of four games, I got 10 goals - three against Minnesota, two against Calgary, one against Vancouver, and four against L.A. I had 45 goals in 38 games." Philadelphia was the next opponent, on December 30 at Northlands Coliseum. "That night," said Gretzky, "turned out to be one of the greatest of my life."

By the six-minute mark of the third period, Gretzky had beaten Philly goalie Pete Peeters four times and was up to 49 goals. With time running out, the Flyers were down only one, 6-5, and pulled the goaltender for an extra skater. But before the horn blew, Glenn Anderson fed Gretzky, who flipped it into the empty net. Five goals in one game. Fifty goals in 39 games. "I knew then," said Gretzky, "that I'd beat Phil Esposito's record of 76 goals in a season."

Wayne broke the record at the Aud in Buffalo, beating goaiie Don Edwards in his 66th game. (Esposito needed 70 games for his mark.) Gretzky eventually became the first player to break the 200-point barrier (212), although he fell eight goals short of the 100-goal level to which he aspired. "I don't know if anyone can get 100," said Gretzky.

What Wayne and his Oilers did get was a lesson in maturity. Despite finishing the season at 48-17-15 and scoring an NHL-record 417 goals, the too-cocky Oilers lost in the first round of the playoffs to Los Angeles. The Kings, 21-41-15 on the year, defeated Edmonton three games to two in the opening round.

With Gretzky's Oilers out of the picture, the Islanders were able to storm through the playoffs, sweeping Vancouver in four Finals games. However, when fans generations from now look back on 1981-82, they'll likely gloss over the Isles' third straight Stanley Cup. "Gretzky's 92 goals," they'll say. "Now that was something."

Players Go On Strike; Pens Strike Gold Again

Ordinarily, the Pittsburgh Penguins would have been favored to retain the Stanley Cup they had won in 1991. Besides the brilliant Mario Lemieux, the champs boasted such scorers as Joe Mullen, Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr, Kevin Stevens, and Rick Tocchet. "It was as good a collection of forwards as you'll see on any team, any time," said New York Islanders coach Al Arbour.

However, the 1991-92 Penguins would have to overcome the tragic loss of their coach. Bob "Badger" Johnson, one of the most beloved coaches in NHL history, underwent surgery for cancer in the summer of 1991. He died three months later. Johnson's replacement, Scotty Bowman, had a long history of success but hadn't been a bench boss since 1987. Some observers questioned whether the aloof and acerbic Bowman could effectively control the freewheeling champions.

Bowman's strategy was simple. He let artists like Lemieux and Jagr do their own thing and turned much of the off-day coaching over to assistants like Barry Smith. The plan was partially successful during the regular season, but still the Penguins fell behind the Mark Messier-led Rangers in the standings.

New York got a stranglehold on first place in the homestretch and appeared capable of winning its first Stanley Cup since 1940. Then, the unthinkable happened. After months of threats and counter-threats, the league owners and the NHL Players' Association reached an impasse over a new collective bargaining agreement. On April 1, 1992, the players went on strike.

For a time, it appeared that neither side would budge and the 1992 playoffs would be canceled. But at the 11th hour - after 10 non-hockey days - an agreement was sealed and players returned to the rinks. "We were happy to be back in action," said Rangers coach Roger Neilson, "but the break disrupted our momentum."

Sure enough, the Rangers faded quickly and were eliminated from the playoffs by a suddenly aroused Pittsburgh club - even though New York's Adam Graves broke Lemieux's hand. Lemieux returned to action in the Wales Conference finals against Boston, where he led his troops to a four-game sweep and a spot in the Finals against Chicago.

The Blackhawks, on the heels of 11 straight playoff wins, busted out of the gates in Game 1 of the Finals, twice opening three-goal leads. Undaunted, the Penguins struck back and came away with a 5-4 triumph. Chicago coach Mike Keenan tried to use heavyweights Mike Peluso and Stu Grimson as intimidators, but the Penguins could not be grounded. They won the next three games by scores of 3-l, 1-0, and 6-5 for their second straight Stanley Cup.

Having scored 16 playoff goals, Lemieux was the unanimous winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. Moreover, the Penguins loomed as an NHL dynasty. "It looked to us that a third straight Cup was well within our grasp," said Penguins owner Howard Baldwin. "All we needed to do was avoid injuries and keep our heads on straight."

NHL Officials Go on Strike for Two Weeks
In a move unprecedented in NHL history, the game's on-ice officials went on strike on November 14, 1993, after they failed to hammer out a new contract with the league brass. For the next two weeks, the NHL continued its schedule with replacement officials from the various Canadian major junior leagues as well as professional minor leagues. On November 30, a new deal was struck and the veteran officials returned to action.

National Hockey League Officials' Association

The NHLOA was born in 1969 out of a need to improve working conditions, salaries and other benefits for officials of the National Hockey League. All members are all active Officials under contract to the NHL who are working in the NHL and designated minor leagues.

Bill Friday was the first NHLOA President and played an important part in the birth of the Association. With the arrival of a competitor in professional hockey in 1972, the Officials finally gained some leverage in negotiating with the NHL It also triggered the negotiation of the first Collective Bargaining Agreement that was going to take place before the start of the 1973-74 season.

Over the next few years, Matt Pavelich, Wally Harris, Bryan Lewis and the late John McCauley took turns as presidents for various terms over the NHLOA until 1980-81 season. With the death of the WHA, 4 teams joined the ranks of the NHL and some WHA Officials would do the same.

Dave Newell took over in 1981 for the longest single reign that would last until 1988. The playoffs of 1988 were quite eventful from an Association standpoint. After a game between the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins, a verbal altercation took place between the referee and the New Jersey coach, which resulted in his suspension for one game. Not happy with the league's decision, the New Jersey Devils turned to the judiciary system to obtain an injunction that would allow their coach to take part in the next game. Their demand was granted.

Dissatisfied that the suspension was not upheld, the Officials threatened to strike until the matter was resolved to their satisfaction. Since an agreement could not be reached, the Officials did not work the game and the game was played with minor Officials dressed as referee and linesmen. Threats of firing and fines did not deter the resolve of the NHLOA Members from getting justice in this case.

From the late 1980's going in to the 90's, a boom in the sports economics caused the athlete's salaries in Professional Sports to rise at a rate never seen before. In the meantime, some of the other areas were left quite far behind. That was the case with the NHL Officials.

In the fall 1989, Terry Gregson became the seventh President of the NHLOA and in the summer of 1992, the NHLOA, at a special summer meeting decided to turn to the player's agent Don Meehan to lead them into the negotiation of their next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

After ongoing negotiations that lasted the whole summer, training camp, exhibition games and the first month of the season and seeing little progress, a special meeting was held in Toronto in November 1993. On the agenda, whether or not a motion for a strike would get the approval of the Membership.

Unanimously, the NHLOA decided that, in order to make things move forward, a strike was in order and after working their next day's game, everybody would go home and wait for a tentative agreement to be reached between the NHL and the NHLOA. The NHL decided to go on with their schedule using replacement officials.

This venture was far from successful mainly because the best Officials in the other spheres of hockey decided to support the NHL Officials and refused to act as replacement Officials while the strike was taking place. So, Officials from the CAHA, USA Hockey, Major Junior Hockey, College Hockey and numerous minor professional hockey leagues joined their brothers from the NHL in their battle for a better CBA for them and their families. Needless to say, their support was instrumental in the success of these negotiations.

It was also the consensus amongst the media, players and fans that something needed to be rectified and this overwhelming support resulted in the ratification, after a 17-day strike, of a new and improved Collective Bargaining Agreement for the NHL Officials. Important enhancements were achieved in the severance, pension, retirement and playoff compensation sectors.

The year 2001 will certainly not be remembered for the NHLOA-NHL negotiations. The events of September 11 put a dark cloud over the beginning of the activities in the NHL. Prior to the beginning of Training Camp 2001, the Membership was invited to a meeting where they were asked to ratify the agreement in principle that had been reached between the NHLOA and the NHL.

Once again the Members showed a united front and accepted unanimously the tentative agreement and were ready to start the 2001-02 season. Harry Radomski was once again reconfirmed in his position as Legal Counsel for the Association and a new Executive Board was elected.

The 9/11 events would prove to have an important impact on the Membership with the delays in awarding Working Visas to the Canadian part of the Membership, the US residents ended up working more than 80% of the pre-season games. No doubt their physical fitness was seriously put to test and passed with overwhelming success.
Stan Fischler et al. Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Publications International, Ltd., Lincolnwood, Illinois. 2003.