NHL, union to meet with mediator again Thursday
A federal mediator met with the NHL and its players union Wednesday in an effort to end the lockout that has cancelled the first 2 1/2 months of the season.
The parties met in New York at an undisclosed location for about six hours. They plan to meet again today.
"A small group of NHLPA staff and players met today with two experienced FMCS mediators. We expect that these discussions will resume Thursday," NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said in a statement.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman did not respond.
It was the first labor meeting since the NHL turned down the Players Association's latest proposal last Wednesday.
ESPN.com reported that each side spent long periods of time meeting separately with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services mediator.
The FMCS has been involved in labor disputes in the past year involving the NFL and the NBA.
Games already have been cancelled through Dec. 14 as well as the Winter Classic and the All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio.
