Aug 5 (The Sports Xchange) - The ownership groups trying to
bring the first major sports franchise to Las Vegas and Quebec
City have moved to the second phase of the application process
to get approval for an NHL team.
The groups both announced Wednesday that the league has
invited them to participate in the second phase in applying for
an expansion team. The first phase was the formal application
that the ownership groups submitted on July 20, including an
application fee of $10 million, $2 million of which was
non-refundable.
The NHL confirmed last month that Las Vegas and Quebec City
were the only two to submit applications for expansion
franchises by the deadline.
The NHL Board of Governors plan to meet in September.
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Representatives from the Minnesota Wild and defending
Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks gathered at TCF Bank
Stadium on Wednesday to unveil final plans for the 2016 Coors
Light NHL Stadium Series game.
In January, the NHL announced the 2016 NHL Stadium Series
will be comprised of two games: Wild-Blackhawks at TCF Bank
Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota in
Minneapolis on Feb. 21 and the Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit
Red Wings at Coors Field on Feb. 27.
The Wild-Blackhawks outdoor game will be broadcast live in
the U.S. on NBC as part of a Hockey Day in America tripleheader
on NBC and NBCSN. In Canada, the event will be televised on
Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
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The Blackhawks agreed to terms with defenseman Viktor
Svedberg on a one-year contract.
Svedberg, 24, recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists)
in 49 regular-season games in his second year with Rockford of
the American Hockey League. His four assists in eight postseason
appearances tied for the most among Rockford defensemen.
Svedberg has totaled 23 points (five goals) in 84
professional games in North America, all with the IceHogs. The
Gothenburg, Sweden, native was originally signed on Oct. 19,
2013.
(Editing by Andrew Both)