Remember that whole lockout thing? Well, it appears the National Hockey League has rebounded quite nicely since the labor dispute came to an end in January of 2013.
These Stanley Cup playoffs, now into the conference finals, have been lauded for the speed and skill on display, as well as the factor that anything has been possible, with comebacks upon comebacks.
On Wednesday, while the Chicago Blackhawks and L.A. Kings did battle in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, the NHL took home hardware at the SportsBusiness Journal Awards.
In all, the league earned three awards:
The #SBJAwards Executive of the Year is...Gary Bettman. The NHL commissioner receives a standing ovation.
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) May 22, 2014
“Usually I’m standing with a trophy and getting booed. It’s strange to be receiving one and be cheered,” said commissioner Gary Bettman.
The #SBJAwards for Sports League of the Year goes to...the NHL.
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) May 22, 2014
“Our athletes are the best in team sports. We wouldn’t be standing here tonight without the players,” said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, as per the SportsBusiness Journal Twitter account.
The NHL took home the award for the second time in four years, according to the league’s website.
The #SBJAwards winner of Sports Event of the Year is...the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) May 22, 2014
Bettman said this year’s Winter Classic was “the biggest and best New Year’s Day party in our history.” It was a huge success in terms of television ratings and the league sold more than 105,000 tickets to the event at the Big House, which provided a beautiful setting on a snowy afternoon for a match-up between two historic Original Six rivals, the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.
As per the NHL’s public relations department, the 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo also won for this award.