Nhl Agrees On Midseason Break

The National Hockey League took an idea that wasn’t exactly original, expanded it and created the “Dream Tournament.”

Following the path of the NBA’s Dream Team, which joined the world’s top basketball players, the NHL announced its players will play at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

By agreeing to a 16-day midseason shutdown of the 1997-98 season, the world’s best hockey players can now decide the world’s best hockey team at the ultimate international showcase.

The Ottawa Senators took former Spokane Chiefs defenseman Justin Hocking from the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL waiver draft.

The St. Louis Blues claimed goalie Pat Jablonski from Toronto in the waiver draft, and acquired right wing Paul Broten and center Fred Knipscheer in separate trades.

Jablonski played 22 games with St. Louis before being traded to Tampa Bay after the 1992 season. Getting Broten from Dallas cost St. Louis center Guy Carbonneau, who was not protected in the waiver draft.

Knipscheer was acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Rick Zombo.

Left wing Link Gaetz, another former Spokane Chief, signed a 25-game tryout agreement with the International Hockey League’s San Francisco Spiders.