I am sickened by this outrageous decision. If I lived there, I would boycott all the games. I have a lot of family there and I am passing on this nformation and they will be boycotting these games. I am certain my ancestors are rolling over in their graves. At such a perilous time in our Nation... How Dare You?!

Are you kidding me??? what does this add to the cost? It is only like two minutes. What communist is running this league?

sounds like ed sam may be anti- american

I am concerned that someone would actually try to 'sell' this propaganda! The National Anthem, at its longest; is probably one and one half minutes. A Hockey Game, with penalties, is likely to go on for far longer than regulation time. My personal belief is that the individual who is trying to promote the elimination of the National Anthem needs to review his priorities lest he offend the very people that support the League and his position.

What a load of crap ! $300.00 / hr. It takes about two minutes for the Anthem, that's $10.00. This guy is a jerk and should lose his job before he screws everything up.

Much ado about nothing in my opinion. The National Anthem has unfortunately become one of those touch stone topics that sets off a fire storm every time its mentioned. The guy was just trying to save some time by cutting out some of the pregame ceremony. Labeling him un-American or Communist is as offensive as it is ridiculous.

I work in athletics(& hockey) so I understand the costs.I agree that the anthem should be played, but how many of the above posters would pay more to use more ice time. I'll bet they would have a fit!

While I find the rationale weak, I personally have felt the national anthem is unneccessary (and I am a proud Canadian) in any game unless the game is for a national championship or is international in nature. Coming from a hockey background, you can see the players want to get going, not stand around on the blue line while an anthem usually gets painfully dragged out by someone who thinks slower and longer is better. And when two anthems have to be played, it is double the drag.

The commissioner should be removed from office!

I dare Mr. Sam to try to explain his position to all the men & women who fought for this country so that we can play the National Anthem. Love and respect for one's country should always take top billing over sport or someone's time clock. Mr. Sam owes all our veterans a huge apology. If you think singers take too long, then have a recording of a professional singer, or choir or orchestra. Problem solved.

In coaching we always stress the little things mean a lot. They determine everything and are a great predictor of future actions.

This is merely another adult permitting young men to round corners off when they need to make it square.

The notion that we have only unifying thematic opportunity in our nation today is pathetic, yet not nearly as bad as those craven enough to think a youth hockey game is above that expression of unity.

Money? Stop the nonsense and do the right thing.

Tim Donovan

I am a High School Soccer Referee in WA. Here the schools have a choice between the National Anthem or the Pledge of Allegiance. While the National Anthem itself is not very long there is typically some pomp and circumstance that goes along with the playing of it. I can tell you from my experiance you can save almost 10 minutes if you just do the pledge of allegiance vs the National Anthem. That 10 minutes turns into 15 minutes from a scheduling standpoint. At $300 per hour that is $75. Multiply that again by how many home games and that is alot of money for some cash strapped programs. The simple solution is to allow for the host school to choose between the two options - pledge of allegiance or the National Anthem.

Instead of discontinuing the National Anthem to save time (and money), why not just change the play of hockey to keep the clock running during penalty time, eliminate time outs, or shorten the duration of the periods. Playing the National Anthem is a good reminder of the fact that there are things more important than hockey (and money).

What a shame....reduce halftime, reduce the quarters 20, reduce the warmup time. The point is that not only should the anthem be played- a pray should also be said. Sports, prayer and anthem are synonymous with sports and if it offends you too bad.

This is so lame what is next for the America we grew up learning about and as a Veteran I can not believe this is even an issue. Take a collection at the game to cover the $10 needed for ice cost. This just keeps getting worse that we as American have so little pride in our country.

It is time to wake up and remember who we are and what this country is all about.

Really? this is how it all starts, eliminate it and then whats next? Are you telling me those who
paid the ultimate price with their lives are not worth $ 10 to $25!! I am sure if they approached
the VFW and other patriotic groups some monetary donations could be made.

Beyond words. Disgusting Disgraceful

Says something about the players as well. Do they not have a backbone to stand up and say, we won't play unless the anthem is played?

Any fathers of these players veterans?

And we wonder what's wrong in this country.

why not cut periods back 1 min. is this americia or not?
make fights end of game that nite. those if fights lose 2 games.

Any one willing to support this needs to move to a new Country. It is people with these types of beliefs that are ruining our Country. Where has the patronage now. It use to be everyone was proud to be and American. Now there are so many that want to destroy everything just and good about our great nation. If you are not proud of our nation and can not support the way it is with the national anthem and can not support putting the pledge back in schools then pack up and get out. the only way the USA will get better is by getting rid of the bad eggs.

The National Anthem, a waste? You know what the true 'waste' is... people like this who reap all of the good America has to offer, but feel no obligation to acknowledge how great this country is.

How are future generations going to garner any sense of American Pride if these are the kinds of decision they see being made by today's 'leaders'? I guess it's because they're not 'leaders', just sheep flocking to the rampant anti-American values that seem to be the easy way out these days.

If I was a parent of any of the kids in this league, I'd pull them out of there so fast their heads would spin!

I agree with Byron King. I too am a proud Canadian who loves hockey, but forever I've thought how stupid it is to have the national anthems played before every game, regardless of what sport, what country, and who's playing.
If it's an international match, or championship, fine, but other than that, it's a useless waste of time. I don't need a national anthem played before a hockey/football/baseball etc game, to be proud of my country and to know I love it and respect it and will defend it. In the regular sports context, the anthem is superfluous.