Gary Bettman
FILE - Former Chicago Blackhawks player Fred Sasakamoose is honored at the Edmonton Oilers-Chicago Blackhawks NHL hockey game Dec. 29, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. Sasakamoose is recognized as becoming the league's first Canadian aboriginal player in 1953, and he turned into a First Nations hero. But historians and the Hall of Fame would give that distinction to Mohawk player Paul Jacobs if he played in a game during the 1918-19 season. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Hockey's history shows handful of non-white pioneers

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 06, 2022 12:33 PM EST

FILE- Team Canada's Sidney Crosby skates on the ice during practice in Ottawa on on Sept. 5, 2016, in preparation for the World Cup of Hockey. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have abandoned plans to hold a World Cup of Hockey in 2024, according to a a joint statement Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, calling it not feasible to hold the tournament as they had hoped in February of 2024. The league and union say they hope to stage it in February 2025 and will continue to plan for that. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Russia-Ukraine war derails World Cup of Hockey plans for '24

By Stephen Whyno Nov. 11, 2022 03:27 PM EST

Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson speaks at the start of the NHL hockey draft in Montreal on Thursday, July 7, 2022. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadiens take Juraj Slafkovsky with top pick in NHL draft

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 07, 2022 07:28 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

Canada's Eric Staal walks to the ice for a men's qualification round hockey game against China at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
IIHF, NHL officials hoping for early deal for 2026 Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2022 09:09 PM EST

Bettman: NHL going worldwide with revival of Global Series

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 07:48 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NHL is ready to go worldwide again after two years of coronavirus restrictions and a missed Olympics. Commissioner Gary Bettman...

FILE -Canada defenseman Shea Weber, left, trips over USA forward David Backes during the third period of a men's semifinal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
NHL announces players won't be allowed to go to Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 22, 2021 10:53 AM EST

FILE -Russia forward Yevgeni Malkin seals off the puck from USA defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the first period of a men's ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Column: NHL skips Olympics again, cites COVID-19 uncertainty

By Jim Litke Dec. 22, 2021 03:32 AM EST

Los Angeles Kings' Tobias Bjornfot (7) and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Quarantine concerns loom over NHL participation in Olympics

By The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2021 05:50 PM EST

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner (90) skates around the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Bettman: NHL still planning to have players go to Olympics

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2021 06:42 PM EST

FILE - In this June 4, 2012, file photo, former assistant United States Attorney Reid Schar speaks during an interview in Chicago. The Chicago Blackhawks are holding a briefing Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, to discuss the findings of an investigation into allegations that an assistant coach sexually assaulted a player in 2010. Team owner Rocky Wirtz, CEO Danny Wirtz and former federal prosecutor Reid Schar, who ran the investigation, are scheduled to speak. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
Blackhawks GM resigns, team fined after sexual assault probe

By Jay Cohen And Stephen Whyno Oct. 26, 2021 06:09 PM EDT

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
NHL schedule will include break but no guarantee of Olympics

By Tim Booth Jul. 21, 2021 08:05 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stretches before the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
Bettman casts doubt on NHL players going to Beijing Olympcs

By Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow Jun. 28, 2021 06:19 PM EDT

People walk by a TV monitor showing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics promotion, in Tokyo, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Column: Athletes can get in line for vaccines like everyone

By Tim Dahlberg Jan. 28, 2021 02:28 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2011, file photo, Mike Emrick speaks after being inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Chicago. Hall of Fame hockey broadcaster Mike Emrick is retiring after a career of almost 50 years behind the microphone, including the past 15 as the voice of the NHL in the United States. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)
Mike 'Doc' Emrick, beloved voice of hockey in US, retires

By Stephen Whyno Oct. 19, 2020 02:53 PM EDT

Before entering the field gates for football strength and conditioning camp at Arlington Martin High School, athletic Trainer Joey Pena, right, uses a thermometer on the forehead of sophomore running back Gervawn Neville for a temperature check Thursday, June 18, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. While states have been easing the economic and social lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, some are now letting high school athletes return for summer workouts before teachers have even figured out how they are going to hold classroom instruction. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Latest: 2nd Tennessee men’s basketball player has virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 23, 2020 10:00 AM EDT

NHL profile photo on Chicago Blackhawks player Patrick Kane at a game against the Calgary Flames in Calgary, Alta. on Sat, Feb. 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Larry MacDougal
The Latest: 3 players on Brazilian soccer team test positive

By The Associated Press May. 06, 2020 05:26 PM EDT

The gates to the empty parking lots at the Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes NHL hockey club, are closed and locked after the Coyotes' scheduled hockey game with the Vancouver Canucks was canceled Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. The NHL is suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak, the league announced Thursday. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Latest: US rowers suspend on-water workouts together

By The Associated Press Mar. 16, 2020 09:59 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, March 12, 2020 file photo general view of the stadium before a Europa League round of 16, 1st leg soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Basel in Frankfurt, Germany. All Champions League and Europa League games were postponed by UEFA on Friday March 13, 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
At a glance: Another wave of disruptions hits sports

By The Associated Press Mar. 13, 2020 09:56 PM EDT

Jimmie Johnson leads the field during a five-wide salute to race fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Fontana, Calif. (AP Photo/Will Lester)
The Latest: Raptors say all of travel party tested negative

Mar. 13, 2020 12:22 PM EDT