Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 16, 1993 TAG: 9311160180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TORONTO LENGTH: Medium
About 70 men from minor, pro and junior leagues have been hired to handle the work usually done by the 58 members of the NHL Officials' Association.
The first games officiated by the new referees and linesmen were Montreal at Ottawa, Edmonton at Toronto and Winnipeg at Calgary.
About two hours of talks Sunday proved futile and no further negotiations were scheduled. Don Meehan, the union's negotiator, said he plans to initiate contact and meet with league executives later this week.
"They are too busy waging war to call," Meehan said.
"I do not think anyone is worried who calls who first," said Brian Burke, the NHL's director of hockey operations. "We will meet them anywhere, any time."
The replacement officials wore radio receivers in their ears that allowed them to get instructions from league supervisors at the arenas. NHL spokesman Arthur Pincus said Commissioner Gary Bettman was monitoring the games from a television studio.
The regular referees and linesmen have been without a contract since Aug. 31. They want a 60 percent raise in the first year of the contract, while the league is offering 29 percent. First-year referees earn $50,000 and first-year linesmen $33,000.
The officials voted unanimously Friday to reject what the league said was its final offer.
NHL referees staged a wildcat walkout for one game during the 1988 playoffs in a dispute involving Jim Schoenfeld, then the New Jersey Devils coach. The league brought in substitute officials for the New Jersey-Boston game.
Keywords:
HOCKEY
by CNB