:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/714875/22-oct-10_103051141jd077_vancouver_ca.0.jpg)
On Thursday, the National Hockey League announced it was canceling two weeks worth of regular season games, through Oct. 24.
Several players have reacted to that decision, including Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who told James Mirtle of the Toronto Globe and Mail, "It's almost like he (NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman) is excited to take away hockey from the fans and the players just because he can. I still haven't heard a valid argument from the league for what they are doing, just that they want more and last time it wasn't enough."
Toews also said the league is not willing to negotiate and instead is satisfied to simply blame the players for the impasse in discussions.
The regular season was slated to start Oct. 11 and the league will miss 82 total games Oct. 11-24. Both sides remain far apart. NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told the Globe and Mail that NHL owners are trying to secure "massive concessions" from the players.