Angry fans make headwear proclaiming their feelings about the 1994 NHL strike.

Hockey player Brian Trottier tells Peter Gzowski the players' perspective on the 1992 strike.

When unproven skaters are signing multi-million dollar contracts, there's no pretending that hockey night in Canada is just another evening at the rink. In 1994 hockey is big business with a big price tag — and now team owners want to put a cap on player salaries. As contract talks stall and a lockout looms, the CBC's Tom Alderman asks a group of 12- to 14-year-olds if the NHL players deserve those big bucks.

A contract expires but NHL management and players still can't agree on salaries.

After five months of very public labour negotiations National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces the cancellation of the 2004-05 hockey season. In the days and hours leading up to the dreaded statement, many observers and fans held out hope that the season could be saved with a last minute deal. In this CBC clip Bettman says he "had no choice" but to call off the season, but many Canadian hockey fans beg to differ.

Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry talks to Peter Mansbridge about his disappointment with the NHL.

Cancelling the 2004-05 NHL season means the league needs to re-think its strategy before players can get back on the ice.