ESPN: Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium could be canceled next week

By Kyle Austin Sports Reporter

Posted on Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.

New Year's Day outdoor hockey at the Big House may not be happening. (AnnArbor.com file photo)

The NHL canceled its first regular season games Friday after another deadline passed in its labor negotiations, and the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium could be next.

The NHL announced the cancellation of all games through November 30 -- 26.5 percent of the 82-game regular season -- on Friday.

ESPN is reporting that the outdoor hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs scheduled for New Year's Day could be canceled as early as next week.

ESPN's John Buccigross posted a similar report on Twitter.

The fate of the Winter Classic has been a subject of speculation since before the league's collective bargaining agreement expired last month. After it was revealed that the lease terms allow for cancellation up until the day of the game, the Toronto Star reported last month that the league could cancel the game in November.

With no end in sight for the lockout, the latest reports suggest that it may not take until latter stages of November for the Winter Classic to fall by the wayside and could be decided upon relatively soon.

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