Soviets and U.S. Claim Victory in Hockey Wars

Both sides in the dispute that threatened to cancel a Soviet-NHL exhibition series claimed victory today after the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation decided to go ahead with a tour of NHL cities this winter.

Federation President Leonid Kravchenko said in Moscow that the Soviets had agreed to the full complement of 29 exhibition games this season. Kravchenko said the decision was made after the NHL gave assurances that teams would not encourage or sign players from any of the three Soviet teams.

Earlier this week, the Soviets had said they were willing to go ahead with an eight-team tour by the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars next month, but might cancel a three-team visit by Soviet teams to NHL cities.

However, Alan Eagleson, head of the NHL Players’ Assn., said it was the Soviets, not the NHL, that had a change of heart. Eagleson and NHL President John Ziegler issued a statement today confirming the Soviets’ participation.

But Eagleson dismissed Soviet suggestions that the NHL backed down on an ultimatum, issued Wednesday, to call off both series unless the Soviets provided written notification by 1 p.m. EDT today stating that they were prepared to take part in all 29 scheduled games.

Kravchenko said earlier Friday that the NHL had “promised to give legal guarantees that there will be no future situations where ‘stealing’ of our players will occur.”

However, Eagleson said the NHL could give no such assurances.

“We have given no guarantees, because if a player wants to leave, we can’t stop him,” he said. “We’re not above the law.”