1994-1995 Hockey Lockout Illustration

Bettman Vs Goodenow 1995 Lockout by Mudge Studios for Trading Cards Magazine

Come on NOW- Let's Play Some Hockey!  Lockouts in the NHL are not anything new. Before the current 2012 Lockout, The NHL had to contend with a strike in 1992 as well as  the 1994-95 Lockout .

That brings me to the background for the artwork above. In January of 1995, Mudge was assigned an editorial 

illustration to capture the sentiment of the back then 1994-95 Lockout. This Lockout happened the season after the players had taken the ice without a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The illustration features caricatures of Gary Bettman the commissioner of the NHL vs. Bob Goodenow who represented the Players Association. Both of these characters have their fingers crossed behind their backs as  NHL's Hall of Famers Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe look down in disbelief. Many of us thought they would not make this thing happen. As it turned out- the season was trimmed down to 48 games and there was no All-Star Game. 

About a decade later the 2004-05 Lockout reared its very ugly head.  That was a very dark period for hockey as it wiped out that entire season. I remember that the NHL was becoming a really hot commodity with a growing fan base just prior to that one- even challenging the other major sports for recognition. It was a rough time for everybody- I know that Mudge Studios lost a couple of assignments over that nasty war of attrition. 

Finally a Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached in 2005, which allowed for the return of the NHLers to the ice. I do remember that the fans felt betrayed and they were very slow to come back and embrace their sport once again. Well, I guess that this brings us back to what's happening now… as that CBA expired on Sept 15, 2012.  Lockouts  are painful for all directly involved with the league and then the misery just trickles down from there. Hopefully, the two sides will see what they all have at stake and settle this thing soon! I miss watching the games and not to mention that not too many sports come even close to the intensity and entertainment of playoff hockey! The season better not be cancelled!