home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, the

TORONTO -- The World Cup of Hockey will return, without a doubt, and avoid another 12-year break.NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr both confirmed for The Associated Press on Friday that they expect the next World Cup of Hockey to be in 2020.It is much less certain whether the best players will go to South Korea to participate in the 2018 Olympics.International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel told the AP on Tuesday the odds of NHL players going to the Pyeongchang Games were 50-50, a slight upgrade from his forecast in May.Later the same day, Daly said he felt more negative, about the chances the leagues players will be in a sixth straight Olympics due to the International Olympic Committees decision to not pay for NHL players travel and insurance as it has in the past.Fehr, who represents players who have made it clear they want to be in the Olympics, said hes more optimistic than pessimistic a deal will get done.The union head insisted he isnt concerned about the IOCs stance.Everybody understands that nobodys going to risk their career and future earnings and all the rest of it in return for no compensation and no coverage, Fehr told the AP. No one will do that. They understand that. Thats been a given for a long, long time. If it plays out that way, which I do not expect it to play out that way, well deal with it.The IOC isnt buying the banter.I think both sides are playing poker, president of the International Ski federation Gian Franco Kasper, who represents winter sports on the IOC executive board, said Friday in an interview with the AP.The IOC does not want to continue its past practice of paying for NHL players travel and insurance because it doesnt want to have to do the same for athletes in other sports.Fasel said it is his job to raise the money needed, which he estimates to be about $10 million. Fasel said he plans to beg, for the funds from national Olympic committees and hockey federations. He acknowledged using some of the $40 million the IOC gives the IIHF to fund its programs, including development opportunities for boys and girls, could be used to bring the best hockey players to South Korea.Daly said the NHL would like a final decision to be made by the end of the year so that it can set the 2017-18 schedule with or without a break midway through the slate for the Olympics.The World Cup of Hockey, which the NHL and NHLPA teamed up to bring back for the first time since 2004, does not conflict with the leagues schedule because the games were played during training camp and early preseason games.Playing hockey in late September, however, is not an ideal time to draw TV viewers in the U.S. in part because of interest in the NFL, college football and baseball.Game 1 with Canada and Team Europe in the World Cup finals on Tuesday night -- without direct competition from football -- drew 494,000 viewers on ESPN, then only 296,000 watched Game 2 on Thursday. In Canada, Game 2 had an average audience of 2.27 million viewers on Sportsnet.Daly acknowledged it was a challenge, to engage Americans enough to watch the event. It did not help that the U.S. and North American Under 23-teams didnt make it to the semifinals of the eight-team tournament.It was also, surprisingly, difficult to fill seats at the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs despite being in hockey hotbed even though the league said ticket sales went very well. It seemed many more people were interested in attending Toronto Blue Jays games when world-class hockey matchups and playoff-push baseball games were played at the same time.The level of hockey, at times, was impressive. And, the atmosphere was electric when Canada rallied from a one-goal deficit in the final few minutes Thursday night to beat Europe 2-1.During many stretches of play, however, the World Cup of Hockey didnt do enough to fire up fans in attendance.Days before Canada beat Europe 2-0 in the best-of-three series to win the World Cup, Canadian coach Mike Babcock seemed to sum up the situation best.The World Cup is great. Its not the Olympics, Babcock said in an unsolicited comparison of the two events. Lets not get confused.---AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno and AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Tyson Chandler Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Amare Stoudemire Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. https://www.cheapknicks.com/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Willie Naulls Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Reggie Bullock Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Nike unveiled new Color Rush jerseys for many teams Tuesday, but the Carolina Panthers?will be sticking with the all-blue set they wore last year on Thanksgiving Day. Linebacker Luke Kuechly shows off the look:Perhaps the set of uniforms will become a good luck charm, after the Panthers routed tthe Dallas Cowboys 33-14 in them last year.dddddddddddd. Carolina will hope for similar results this year when they host the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, Nov. 17. ' ' '