WINNIPEG

Federal mediator gets back to work in the middle of NHL labour fight

Ira Podell The Associated Press
Published Saturday, January 5, 2013 10:47AM CST Last Updated Saturday, January 5, 2013 10:48AM CST

In this Dec. 6, 2012, file photo, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, right, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly speak to reporters in New York. (AP / Mary Altaffer)

Text:

NEW YORK -- About 12 hours after discussions ended, a federal mediator is back at work in the middle of NHL labour talks that hit a snag earlier this week.

Scot Beckenbaugh is talking to the players' association first on Saturday morning and is expected to also meet with the NHL. The mediator walked back and forth between the headquarters for each side several times Friday as he tried to bridge the gap over a 12-hour span.

While Beckenbaugh never got the league and the union in the same room Friday, enough was accomplished to convince the sides to continue the process.

It isn't yet known if the league and union will meet face-to-face Saturday, the 112th day of the lockout. The sides have less than a week to reach a new collective bargaining agreement to save what would likely be a 48-game hockey season.