No sign of a thaw in row between ice hockey players and clubs

ICE HOCKEY’S NHL in America is on the brink of becoming the first American sports league to lose an entire season due to a labour dispute.

Club owners and players have been meeting to reach a resolution and after a five-hour round of negotiations at Chicago’s O’Hare airport yesterday, both sides said progress had been made and the talks would continue in Toronto.

However, despite that positive note, there were no breakthroughs or new proposals. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players’ Association chief Bob Goodenow have been at odds throughout the dispute, and neither attended the most recent meeting. There’s no immediate indication they’ll take part in the next round of talks either.