NHL Cancels 2004/05 Season (Video from ESPN)
“And the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup!” That was the last hockey related game headline for the next year and a half. The 2004-2005 National Hockey League was cancelled due to a labor disupte between the owners of NHL teams, and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA). The ’04-’05 season was the first season that the NHL had not awarded the Stanley Cup since 1919, and the first time that the NHL cancelled regular season games since the 1994-1995 season. The lockout caused players to play in different leagues, whether minor leagues or other professional leagues in Europe. On July 13th, 2005 the owners and players finally reached an agreement, and on July 22nd, 2005 the first ever NHL full season lockout was officially lifted and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was ratified.