The following isn't specifically about *college* hockey, but it *is* the
off-season. So here's something from the Associated Press...
 
-Indy Rutks ([log in to unmask])
 
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NHL condemned as white domain
           TORONTO (AP) _ One of Canada's largest media chains has condemned
 professional hockey as having ``a reputation as being a white domain with
few
 or no minorities and repulsion towards gays and minorities.''
           So says a statement of defense by the Sun Media Corporation in a
massive
 libel suit brought against it by hockey legend Bobby Hull.
           In a 12-page document filed with the Ontario Court, Sun Media lawyers
 maintain the news organization did not harm the former star's reputation
when
 it reported pro-Hitler and racist comments alleged to have been made by
Hull
 last summer to a reporter in Moscow. Rather, the Sun claims that Hull had a
 boisterous and controversial personal past that damaged his reputation.
           Attempts to reach Sun Media lawyer Alan Shanoff and Toronto Sun
publisher
 Douglas Knight were unsuccessful Wednesday, the Globe and Mail said in
 reporting the story in today's edition.
           Hull's lawyer, Timothy Danson, who originally sought $27 million in the
 suit, was incensed by the Sun's invoking of Hull's troubled marital history
in
 the statement. He saw it as a pressure tactic to try and get Hull to drop
his
 action or settle out of court.
           Instead of withdrawing, the Hull camp has now boosted its claim for
damages
 to $37 million, ``and not less than 10 percent of the fair market value of
the
 Sun Media Corporation in punitive damages.''
           ``They've gone into the gutter for a defense against Bobby Hull, and
they're
 making a broad statement about hockey that tars everybody in the game,''
Danson
 said. ``They're saying that if they can't prove Bobby Hull said these
things,
 they'll try to prove he's the kind of person who would say them.''
           Bernadette Mansur, vice president of corporate communications for the
NHL,
 said that rather than repulsing minorities, the league actively tries to
 cultivate an audience and players in those areas.
           There were 31 players of various racial minorities on NHL rosters this
 season.
           ``For seven years we've had our NHL Diversity Task Force program,''
Mansur
 said. ``We're proud of our record in bringing minorities, women, and
 disadvantaged individuals into the game who otherwise wouldn't have
exposure to
 it. The number of rookies with minority backgrounds is growing each year.
           ``There's always more to do in this area, but some of the finest young
 players _ Mike Grier, Anson Carter, Manny Malhotra are just a few _ have
come
 up with diverse backgrounds and are surviving and have a great future in
the
 NHL.''
           A spokesman for the NHL Players Association noted that hockey's top pro
 league is made up of players from all over Europe and North America ``and
all
 different ethnic backgrounds, who travel together and share rooms together.
 There's no repulsion.''
 
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