Eugene Melnyk, the owner of the Ottawa Senators, expressed displeasure with the fact that the NHL continues its lockout.
NHL lockout: Sens owner Eugene Melnyk speaks out
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is unhappy with the fact that a labor dispute continues to cancel games, blaming both sides for their inability to reach an agreement.
Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo
Melnyk, who has owned the Senators since 2003, spoke to Sportsnet about the continued work stoppage, making it clear that he feels the league should be in action.
“(I’m) extremely disappointed like any fan of where we are, we should be playing hockey by now.”
Rather than taking the owners’ side and complaining about the NHLPA’s action during the lockout, the Senators’ owner criticized both sides, saying nobody cared who was to blame for the lack of NHL games. Melnyk, a 53-year-old who founded the Canadian pharmaceutical company Biovail, said that he used to be a big baseball fan before a labor dispute ended the 1994 season, an event which killed his enthusiasm for the game. He expressed fear that the league could suffer irreparable damage to its fanbase if no agreement is reached soon.
As both sides continue to be unable to reach a deal, it could result in the cancellation of the 2013 Winter Classic and perhaps the entirety of the NHL season.
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