Don't sacrifice the charities

The regular season should have started this week. Disappointed? Imagine being a 9-year-old cancer patient who was looking forward to a night away from needles, a night out at a game thanks to one of many player programs around the league.

The NHL and its players give sick and disadvantaged children a break from difficult lives. But without games, the result of the lockout, these nights won't happen. This isn't the only area in which charities and children will suffer. Some events unrelated to games still could happen, but they won't because the teams and players can't come together.

To their credit, teams are trying to support their charities without the players. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets' staff already is planning to step in for players in the team's annual Adopt-a-Family holiday event.

Describing the program, director of communications Todd Sharrock says, "There's a Christmas tree with ornaments that have the name of a child or family. A player picks the name off the tree. It'll say, 'Tommy Smith, red fire truck.' The child wants a fire truck, and his family can't afford it, so the player will get it for him. We're going to do that as a staff this year."

Staff, coaches and former players will handle team events, such as hospital visits. Players can make appearances on their own, and according to the players' association, many are actively planning events. Free-agent defenseman Joel Bouchard and Avalanche defenseman Bob Boughner are scheduling charity games, and others are in the works. Charitable organizations also can call the NHLPA and try to work out arrangements for player appearances.

It's something, but it's not the best plan. The best method involves teams and players working together. But it's not as if teams can't contact players for charity events at all. According to NHL vice president of communications Bernadette Mansur, if a team runs a player's charity, the team can contact that player for appearances and events. The Lightning runs Brad Richards' Richy's Rascals and continues to communicate with Richards about events benefiting pediatric cancer patients. His suite for children and their families not only is used for games but also for family shows at the arena, so the team will distribute those tickets.

But the Lightning is an exception. Calls to other teams revealed confusion and the assumption that no player could be contacted. Mansur says that will be clarified. Teams are allowed to contact a player who is heavily involved with a club program, even if the program doesn't carry his name.

One thing is certain: Players are the heart of all team charitable programs. They are the reason fans come to events. Their autographs prompt fans to buy chances at winning signed memorabilia or make donations of cash, toys or time. We are all too aware that the league and the union have declared each other enemies, but the time will come when the players and teams are working together again. They are partners in the league and its community work and should get together to correct this wrong.

This lockout is preventing toys from reaching needy children and coordinated player visits from lifting the spirits of hospital patients. Each market has enough players in town to hold events. As the holidays approach, every available player should be active in the community, trading a signature for canned goods or sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive that is normally held on game nights. The players should be there, and the team's banner should hang behind them. Tommy wants a fire truck, and he has friends in need. Do something about it. Together.

SPEED READ

* Steve Moore's agent told the Denver Post that the Avalanche center, who suffered a broken neck after being hit from behind by Canucks winger Todd Bertuzzi, still is suffering post-concussion symptoms but is continuing his rehabilitation. Moore has not skated, but just the possibility of his getting back on the ice is great news.

INSIDE DISH

The only thing that can stop Rimouski Oceanic phenom Sidney Crosby seems to be injury. Crosby, who had four goals and 18 assists in seven games before suffering a left knee injury, will be out until at least mid-October. Crosby is the consensus No. 1 pick for next June's draft, assuming the draft comes off as usual. The league is discussing draft options in case the season is canceled. ... The Original Stars Hockey League is trying to work out a new schedule and return to the ice. The World Hockey Association is attempting to be sold to an investment group based in Boca Raton, Fla., and New York. WHA organizers still claim games will start this winter. ... Blue Jackets RW Nikolai Zherdev might play for Russia's CSKA again. Zherdev left the team without permission last season to come to the NHL, and CSKA protested without success. In September, Zherdev was assigned to Syracuse (AHL), but he wants to stay home. Getting him on the ice quickly must be a consideration, but the Blue Jackets say there is no deadline for the decision. ... Flyers C Jeremy Roenick's fight to prove he still should be paid as a rehabbing player (teams cannot lock out rehabbing players) because of a concussion suffered in last season's playoffs loses some clout because he came back and played. It is a he-said, he-said situation on whether Roenick told the team of his symptoms after the season. The Flyers have a history of winning injury flaps, but the case of Leafs RW Alexander Mogillly is playing in Roenick's favor. Mogilny, who played in Toronto's playoff games, had offseason surgery on his hip, which was injured and operated on initially last season. Mogilny is being paid.--K. Y