Ottawa, Canada — The most popular professional sports league in North America, the National Football League (NFL), has the most “socialist” economic system of the four major leagues inNorth America, based on an assessment by The Conference Board of Canada – the latest in its series on the pro sports market.

“It is somewhat ironic that America, land of capitalism and free enterprise, is so fond of a league that has made sharing the wealth fundamental to its business model,” said Glen Hodgson , Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist.

In the National Football League, more than 80 per cent of league and club revenues are shared among the franchises. The NFL also has a “hard” salary cap that puts a ceiling on the amount of money franchises can pay players, one that applies equally to all teams. The one market-driven aspect is the NFL’s treatment of player talent- both in terms of the high salaries paid to top stars and the ease with which players can be discarded.

Moving from the economic “left” to “right”, the National Hockey League (NHL) is similar to the NFL in having a hard player salary cap. As part of the current collective bargaining agreement with its players – negotiated in 2005 and now expiring – the NHL has a salary floor and a complex revenue-sharing system. The NHL is willing to provide subsidies to its weaker clubs to protect the value of the stronger franchises, since bankruptcy of any team is not a good signal to prospective investors.

“The NHL model is a mixed economy which does try to equalize opportunity for all its franchises to be successful on the ice and profitable in the books,” said Hodgson. “The challenge for the NHL and its players in collective bargaining this year is to tweak this system without undue disruption to the business. Hopefully, both management and the players have learned from their experience in 2004-05 and they will not risk losing another season in these negotiations.”

Both the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball operate much like a modern capitalist economy. In general, the financial playing field in these leagues is not level, and the largest, richest markets and teams tend to be the most successful. Top players command massive salaries, which leads them overwhelmingly to suit up for the wealthiest teams.

No league in North America, however, compares to European football (or soccer) for unconstrained capitalism. The presence of unbelievably wealthy owners, little sharing of revenue among teams and leagues, and eye-popping player salaries is reminiscent of the “robber baron” era of capitalism in the 19thcentury. Clubs are very much on their own. The current liquidation of the Scottish club Rangers FC – one of the most storied teams in Europe – shows there is little financial security or assistance to those that slip.

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The You Can Play project, with the backing of numerous National Hockey League players and other supporters, is launching an aggressive advocacy program to change the sometimes homophobic culture of locker rooms with a message that athletes should be judged on athletic skill and ability, not sexual orientation or other discriminatory factors.

A large number of high-profile NHL players, including several All-Stars, are filming public service announcements (PSAs) in support of You Can Play. The first PSA debuts during the first intermission of March 5th NBC Sports broadcast of the game between the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, with others to follow shortly. All videos can be found at YouCanPlayproject.org, which also will serve as a resource for straight and gay athletes, coaches and fans.

“The goals for You Can Play are clear,” according to co-founder Patrick Burke. “We want to make locker rooms safe for all athletes, rather than places of fear, slurs and bullying. The casual homophobia in sports has to change, so all athletes know that what counts is whether you can play the game.”

Burke, a scout for the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, has been a straight ally in sports since his younger brother Brendan came out as gay while manager of the Miami University ice hockey team.  Brendan’s story became national news because of his closeness to the NHL and took on deeper meaning when he was killed in a 2010 car accident. Burke’s father, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, has joined Patrick in filming a PSA in support of You Can Play.

“The hockey community united behind Brendan because he loved the game, and that’s what matters. The NHL players stepping forward to support You Can Play know that creating a homophobia-free environment will make their teams – and the sport – better,” Patrick Burke continued.

“It’s important for straight athletes at all levels to step up and let gay athletes know they will be accepted, and to let other straight athletes know that homophobic language and attitudes are never appropriate. This project is a combined effort of gay and straight athletes and fans, but the message is largely for straight audiences.”

Said Brian Burke, general manager of the Maple Leafs, “The Burke family is very proud to carry on Brendan’s legacy by working to ensure that LGBT athletes, coaches and fans around the world are treated with respect by the sports world. The You Can Play project will serve as a tremendous resource for the sports community by providing them with the tools needed to create safe arenas.

I continue to be incredibly grateful to the NHL community for rallying around our cause and standing up for equality, and I look forward to seeing other leagues do the same. It has become abundantly clear to me that NHL players, coaches and management agree completely with our ideals: talent matters, sexual orientation does not. If you can play, You Can Play.”

2011 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Andy Miele, who was a friend of Brendan Burke’s while at Miami University and now plays in the Phoenix Coyotes organization, has stepped forward to talk about the importance of You Can Play. “The reason why I wanted to be a part of You Can Play is pretty obvious.

I had a relationship with Brendan, and if he was still here he would want to promote this more than anyone else,” said Miele. “I felt privileged when Patrick came to me and asked me to be a part of it and I look forward to investing this into players all over the world to make the sports world safe for gay athletes.”

While more than 30 NHL players have already volunteered to support the program, You Can Play will extend beyond hockey, encompassing all sports, athletes and fans. The organization is in active discussions with officials and players in several other sports leagues.

“Casual homophobia doesn’t belong in any sports setting, whether in the locker room or in the stands. You Can Play will help to change the behavior and acceptance of fans,” according to co-founder Brian Kitts, who has spent more than ten years in the front offices of professional hockey, basketball, lacrosse and soccer teams. “Most fans care about exciting games, great performances and wins, not whether a player is gay or straight.  Fans need to send the message to other fans that sexual orientation just doesn’t matter.”

Glenn Witman, the third co-founder of You Can Play, is a former hockey player at Hobart College and founder of GForce Sports, an elite gay hockey team and advocacy program.  “Any player, gay or straight, knows how homophobic locker rooms can be,” Witman said.  “Coaches and teams don’t get the best performance when a member of the team is forced to keep any secret or when any player feels shut out.  You Can Play shows coaches, team captains and players how important it is to focus on skills and work ethic, not personal differences.”

You Can Play will launch with a series of videos from professional athletes but will quickly begin adding user-generated content. The organization welcomes video content from pro teams, university teams and athletes, club athletes and sports fans who value skill and healthy competition first. Over the next year, You Can Play will provide educational materials, workbooks, online coaching and other high school- and college-based programs aimed at letting coaches and players discuss sexual orientation.

“Familiarity and understanding is the best way to promote acceptance,” Witman said.  “Athletes who work with us know that hurting your friends and teammates doesn’t get a win.”

The You Can Play website is augmented by a full suite of social media properties. Extensive outreach will be conducted on Facebook, Twitter (@YouCanPlayTeam) and YouTube (YouCanPlayProject) to grow the You Can Play community and further promote the organization’s goals and positive messages.

NBC Sports and HBO have joined the launch effort to support the creation and release of the PSA featuring NHL players. Initial funding for You Can Play was provided by the Gill Foundation, the Palette Fund and the Colin Higgins Foundation.

Web Site: http://www.YouCanPlayproject.org

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The Toronto Maple Leafs had a very busy 40 minutes of play on Wednesday, scoring five times to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3. After a fight between Mike Brown and Brad Mills only five minutes into the first period, Leafs forward Joey Crabb started off with the scoring by putting a pass from Matthew Lombardi past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur a couple minutes later.

The Devils retaliated after four minutes with a power-play goal from Dainius Zubrus. Mikhail Grabovski helped the Leafs secure the lead before the end of the period by scoring off a pass from Jake Gardiner. The second period is where all the action happened. Patrik Elias tied up the game for the Devils by scoring a power-play goal three minutes in.

However, Joffrey Lupul got the lead back for the Leafs again three minutes later off a pass from Mike Komisarek. The Devils tied the game up yet again off a goal from David Clarkson, who scored two minutes after the last goal. Lupul put the puck in the net two more times, once nine minutes into the period and again three minutes later, to complete his hat-trick and secure the victory for the Leafs.

”I wouldn’t say we’re loosey-goosey,” Ron Wilson said in a post game interview with Fox Sports. ”But it’s like being in a sidecar of a motorcycle and not knowing where the driver is going. I’m happy we won, don’t get me wrong, but we’re starting to get picky about the way we win.” Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson made 19 saves throughout the game, with most of the shots coming in the second period.

Devils goalie Brodeur, in his second start of the season, only saw 23 shots in the game, making the five goals he allowed in to an uglier statistic. The Toronto Maple Leafs (8-3-1) travel to Ohio to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, while the New Jersey Devils (4-5-1) travel to Pennsylvania to face the Philadelphia Flyers.

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The Philadelphia Flyers scored three goals in the first period on Wednesday to beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in their first matchup since their Eastern Conference quarterfinal last season.

Scott Hartnell, Sean Couturier and James van Riemsdyk scored early in the first period of play for the Flyers, making the Sabres have to exchange goalie Ryan Miller after 11 shots for backup goalie Jhonas Enroth. Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov came out of the game with 29 saves. The last time Miller was pulled due to a poor performance was after allowing four goals in one period at Florida on Dec. 17, 2010

“We were really peppering him early,” Hartnell said in an interview with Fox Sports after the game. ”Against a top goalie like that, to get him out of there, it was pretty good for us to get pucks on net.”

The rest of the game was played with the Flyers on the defensive; by the end of the game, Enroth only saw 15 shots. Sabres Andrej Sekera was able to score in the second period, ending Bryzgalov’s shutout opportunity. The Flyers also spent the whole period in the penalty box, collecting 23 penalty minutes mostly due to a 10 minute misconduct penalty on Zac Rinaldo.

Luke Adam scored eight minutes into the third period, bringing the Sabres one goal away from tying up the game and a needed overtime. However, the Flyers were able to hold off or interrupt any offensive attempts for the rest of the game.

“Everyone battled hard and we were rewarded with two points,” Bryzgalov said. ”It was a really tough game for us. We played very good in the first period, but then in the second period we turned over the puck and got some penalties.

The Philadelphia Flyers (7-4-1) travel back home to face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, while the Buffalo Sabres (6-5-0) get to welcome the Calgary Flames on Friday.

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The Phoenix Coyotes, with the help of goalie Mike Smith, beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Wednesday, making it their third win in a row. Coyotes Taylor Pyatt was able to get the first goal eight minutes into the first period off a pass from Derek Morris. There were not many scoring chances throughout the rest of the period, and the only penalty was called on the Coyotes for delay of game.

The second period began with a couple power-play opportunities for the Avalanche, but Colorado was not able to capitalize on any of their chances. The Coyotes got their second goal of the game off the stick of Radim Vrbata with two minutes left in the period, and Ryan O’Reilly was able to score the first goal for Colorado 20 seconds later.

Lauri Korpikoski scored 24 seconds into the third period, which gave the Coyotes a two goal lead that they held for the rest of the period. The Avalanche pulled their goalie in the final two minutes of the period, but were not able to capitalize with the extra man. Vrbata was able to get around the Avalanche defense and score a second, empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game.

Smith saw made 39 saves throughout the game, allowing his team to stay aggressive and keep attacking throughout each period. Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves, but was unable to keep every shot out of his net.

”Strong goaltending,” Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said in a post game interview with Fox Sports. ”We didn’t play as well as we would like, but our goaltender hung in there and battled hard for us and we found enough to win.”

The Phoenix Coyotes (6-3-2) travel back home to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday, while the Colorado Avalanche (7-5-0) head to Texas to face the Dallas Stars on Friday.

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The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in shutout fashion Wednesday, winning game seven on the road by a final score of 4-0 to win the 2011 Stanley Cup.

The Bruins fans finally could rejoice, ending their 39 year championship drought and stopping the Canucks once again from grabbing their first ever Stanley Cup victory in the process.

The home teams dominated the series, winning every game on their own ice until game seven. In one of the most physical finals series ever, and the most penalized series in 25 years, Boston’s bruising style proved to be too much for Vancouver to handle.

No team in NHL history had ever won three game sevens in one playoff run, but that’s exactly what Boston did with their victory behind the legendary goaltending of Tim Thomas.

Thomas, who was a shoe in to win the Conn Smythe trophy no matter what the outcome of game seven may have been, shattered the record for saves in one postseason en route to leading the Bruins to victory. He became only the second American-born player to win the trophy behind Brian Leetch, who ironically also beat the Canucks in 1994 as a member of the New York Rangers.

Tim Thomas was indeed fantastic, but the Bruins played an overall masterful team game in order to dismantle Vancouver.

The referees did an incredible job in game seven by not being overly strict. They let the players decide the outcome no matter how physical the game got. Their officiating allowed the game to be incredibly entertaining to watch. Not many stoppages, not many penalties, just pure hustle and pure hockey.

Just as the game was getting up to speed in the first period Patrice Bergeron slipped one over Roberto Luongo’s shoulder to put the Bruins on the board, quieting the Vancouver bench.

The Canucks were almost able to knot the game at one halfway through the second period, but Zdeno Chara stepped his 6-foot-9, 255 lb. body in front of an open net to block the shot. Giving up your body was a necessary action with the cup on the line. These guys were giving it everything they could to win.

The Bruins struck again soon after when sensational rookie Brad Marchand scored his 10^th goal of the playoffs on a wraparound shot after a flurry of rebounds kicked off of the pads of Luongo.

A penalty on Chara at the end of the second period gave Vancouver a power play and their best opportunity yet. Unfortunately they couldn’t catch a break once again. Patrice Bergeron caught a bouncing puck near the blue line and hustled to the net to net his second goal of the game, this time shorthanded.

The Canucks battled and showed heart right up until the final whistle, but the deficit was too large.  Tim Thomas proved to be impossible to score on. Just before the clock hit zeros Brad Marchand added an empty net goal, his second, and it was official, the Bruins had won it all.

This game defined what every child dreams of. The moments that every young hockey player fantasizes about in their driveway. Every player surely left everything they had on the ice in Vancouver, but only one could win. Only the Bruins could lift Lord Stanley’s Cup over their heads and celebrate the way they always imagined doing throughout their careers. A dream come true.

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And then it comes down to game 7, as sport predictors and many of us did not expect. Prior to the series, I read several blogs and columns on how the Canucks should win the series in 4-0, or at most, 4-1. Apparently, it did not go that way.

Currently tied at 3-3, where both teams only won games played at home, the last game should be exceptionally interested. Would home court advantage give the Canucks the edge? Or, will Boston play the way they did on game 3, 4, and 6? All I can say is they both have a shot on this.

The last time Canada won the Stanley Cup was back in 1993, when Montreal Canadians defeated Los Angeles Kings 4-1. It was Montreal, who has won the most titles in the league, 23 times, followed by Toronto Maple Leafs with 13 titles respectively. Hockey, as we all can see, is a very important sport in Canada and seeing people lining up the street in Vancouver during this year’s final signals that they want this bad. Vancouver Canucks has never won a championship, though has been to a couple finals; losing to New York Islander in 1982 and New York Rangers in 1994. Boston Bruins, therefore, did it five times before. Nevertheless, it has been close to 40 years since Boston last hold the Stanley Cup, and for this reason being, they want it as much.

For the last six games, these two teams have won differently. The Canucks won in close games, all by just one point (1-0, 3-2, and 1-0), whereas the Bruins won by larger margin (8-1, 4-0, and 5-2). Even though Vancouver is seeded number one, statistically, it’s Boston that comes up a little better. Other than scoring more during the final series, Boston has fewer goals against per game, averaging at 2.21. Thanks to the incredible performance by Tim Thomas, Boston’s goalie, who has saving percentage of 93.7 % and saved 51 goals throughout the playoff season. Both teams have played significantly well, defensively and offensively. The last game, which will be played today at Rogers Stadium in Vancouver at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, will also come down to the team’s ability to hold it together. It’s the ultimate test of mental toughness.

Game seven is special, in every circumstance. This is the game that will decide who will walk off the court winners, and who will walk off the court losers. It’s the game both parties have worked hard for throughout the entire season. Happiness for one, disappointment for other, as they may say.

So, will Vancouver finally win their first Stanley Cup tonight, or will Boston get out of their 39 years drought? The question will be answered tonight. Until then, sit back, relax, and make sure there’s enough beer for everyone because we are in it for a long, exciting night.

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August 1^st will be a decisive day for Long Islanders. A vote will be held regarding the possible rebuilding of the Nassau Coliseum, home of hockey’s New York Islanders, and the general redevelopment of the area.

On May 31^st the Nassau County (New York) Legislature held a meeting to decide whether or not to let county residents vote at all on the proposed $400 million dollar project, a meeting that culminated with a positive decision for residents, putting the choice in their hands.

Rallys had recently been held in support of the referendum. Understandably, residents, union workers and business men and women around the area want the choice to be theirs rather than solely up to the Islanders owner Charles Wang and other county legislators.

However, Wang was the person who first brought this plan to fruition. The proposal offers not only a brand new state of the art arena for the Islanders, but also will include the construction of a minor league baseball field nearby in the same complex. Rumors have also floated around that should this vote pass, a casino will be built in the area as well.

The initial thought is that $400 million dollars is a ton of money to be spending during such a harsh economic climate, especially on a hockey team that hasn’t produced much success, either financially or athletically, in over a decade.

Though this is true, residents should think further into the future, after these arenas are built, and look for the positives in the project.

Thousands upon thousands of jobs will be created both in the construction of these buildings, and the everyday operations of them after they are finished. In such a time when finding jobs is difficult in any place, people should not quickly turn a blind eye to such an investment without serious thought.

The project could prove to be a real boost to the overall economy of the entire county. A new stadium would bring much revenue to business in the surrounding areas. At the very least it would send more traffic through the area, and for the most part, people equal money.

Should this vote fail, the belief is that the Islanders will be forced to move out of Uniondale. Possible rumored locations include Queens, Brooklyn, and possibly out of state destinations such as Kansas City. If the Islanders are gone, the Coliseum will undoubtedly go vacant, and cause not only a loss of jobs and revenue, but create an unused eyesore for the community, a reminder of what once was the pride of Long Island.

August 1^st, 2011 may indeed be a day that goes down in infamy, with the future of Long Island waning in the balance, no matter the outcome of the vote. Residents are urged to take a side on the project in the coming months and go to the polls so they can have their hand in shaping not only the home of one of their beloved sports teams, but their home as well.

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This series has history written all over it. The Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins will square off and compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup starting Wednesday June 1^st, in what hockey fans are hoping will be a very entertaining series.

Hockey, a sport so rich in Canadian culture and history, has not seen any of its NHL representatives lift the cup in victory since the Montreal Canadians beat Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in 1993. 18 years is unacceptable for Canadian fans, and they’re hoping that the Canucks can bring the championship back to it’s home country.

Boston on the other hand is a team that has been a perennial contender as of late, but has always seemed to fall short of their goals come playoff time. They are challenging for their first title since 1972 when legend Bobby Orr led them to victory over the New York Rangers. As we all know, Boston fans want rings, not finals appearances, and won’t rest until they see their beloved Bruins skating around the ice with the iconic silver cup held high over their heads.

These two teams tirelessly battled past many good teams en route to where they are now. So what should we look for in this series?

First of all, if any team wants to make a run at a championship, they’re going to need big performances out of their star players. In hockey, especially come playoff time, we all know that a hot goalie can bring a team as far as they want to go. Both Boston’s Tim Thomas and Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo are some of the best in the business, and are going to have to show off their cat-like reflexes in this series should they want to lift the cup themselves.

That brings us to the rest of the big-time players on the ice. Let’s start with Vancouver. Everybody knows about Daniel and Henrik Sedin. The twins have had great careers for the Canucks and brought them to the playoffs countless times, but really have struggled at times this year, worrying fans they they might not be the leaders they thought they were. Boy were they wrong, against San Jose they scored points left and right, and began to show why both these first-round picks are the keys to the cup.

Another player Vancouver will need to step up is Ryan Kesler. In fact, if you ask me, he is centerpiece for this team. Much rumor has it that Kesler is in line to compete for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL Playoff’s Most Valuable Player. He will have to keep up his outstanding play if Vancouver wants to knock off the Bruins.

So what about Boston? Two words, one giant man: Zdeno Chara. He is a mammoth on the ice, and not only is he half-impossible for opposing scorers to get around on the defensive end, but possesses a deadly 100+ miles per hour slap-shot that will strike fear into any goalkeeper.

The Canadian fans, and players for that matter, will undoubtedly be ready for this task. They want nothing more than to bring the cup back to Canada where they believe it deserves to be. However, despite the Canucks being the best team in the NHL, the Bruins will not back down to anyone. They may have flaws, but they are scrappy, hard-nosed, and have a fan-base on their side that can match up with the best of them.

Look for an entertaining series with both teams laying everything on the line. My prediction? Vancouver in seven.

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What do the two teams who played for the 2010 Stanley Cup have in common? A sense for the dramatic it seems. On Sunday, both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers trailed three games to two in the opening round of the NHL playoffs. Both teams trailed in the third period, but were able to make a charge and win their respective games in overtime. The Flyers, the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-4, and the Blackhawks, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference defeated the best team in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks 4-3.

Both teams have had their problems this season but their roles have been reversed. The Blackhawks were the No. 2 seed in the West last year while the Flyers were the No. 7 seed in the East. The Flyers have struggled in the playoffs due to injuries and a lack of solid goaltending. Their best defenseman, Chris Pronger, and leading goal-scorer, Jeff Carter, have both been limited by injuries. The Blackhawks have struggled after letting some of their best players from last season leave the team. They lost their goalie Antti Niemi, big man, Dustin Byfuglien, defenseman Brent Sopel, winger Andrew Ladd, and center John Madden in the off-season.

The Flyers had inconsistent goaltending in last year’s playoffs and it is hurting them again this year. Throughout the series against the Sabres the Flyers have had three different goalies start games. Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky started the first two games of the series, but was pulled in game two after allowing three goals on seven shots. Veteran goalie Brian Boucher, who has played a number of playoff games for the Flyers, came in to relieve Bobrovsky, and pick up the win in game two. Boucher then started the next three games, but didn’t survive the first period of game five after allowing three goals on 11 shots. Michael Leighton then became the third goalie to get playing time for the Flyers who lost game five in overtime 4-3. Leighton then started game six but didn’t make it through the first after allowing three goals on just eight shots. Boucher got a second chance and allowed only one goal as the Flyers won the game in overtime. Their opponent, the Sabres, have had mostly excellent goaltending from Ryan Miller who has two shutouts in the series. If the Flyers fail to make it past the first round this year, they will once again have their goalies to blame.

For the Blackhawks the season has been somewhat disappointing. The team was completely restructured after winning the Stanley Cup last season, and barely made the playoffs, just days before the season ended. Now they will be without one of their best playoff performers so far this season forward Bryan Bickell. Bickell has two goals and two assists in the series against the Canucks, but had surgery on his wrist Monday after suffering an injury in game two of the series. He missed game three, but returned for games five through six to help the Blackhawks even the series at three. It was determined though that time had run out, and he had to have the surgery to repair a lacerated tendon in his wrist. The Blackhawks trailed the Canucks three games to none, but have bounced back and have a chance in game 7 Tuesday night to move on. Only three NHL teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the 1942 Stanley Cup over the Detroit Redwings after going down 3-0. In 1975 the New York Islanders won the quarterfinals round against the Pittsburgh Penguins facing the same deficit. And just last year, the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins to make the Stanley Cup Finals after facing a 3-0 deficit.

Tuesday night will decide the fate of these two teams and whether either or both teams will get another crack at hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup.

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