2007年VOA标准英语-National Hockey League to Open New Season in Lo

By Tom Rivers
London
28 September 2007

For the first time in the history of North America's National Hockey League, the season's opening game will be staged in Europe. On Saturday, the defending champion Anaheim Ducks will face off against their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Kings in London kicking off the 90th NHL season. For VOA, Tom Rivers reports.

Call it a homecoming for the oldest team trophy¹ in North American sports, hockey's Stanley Cup. The trophy began life in London and was donated to Canada's top amateur² team in 1892 by the then-governor general of Canada, Lord Stanley.

In 1910, it was given to the professional ranks. Last year the Anaheim Ducks raised the cup and this weekend in London they start their defense³ of that championship in the NHL's 90th season when they face their rivals, the Los Angeles Kings in a two-game series.
 
Once before in the 1990s, the NHL held exhibition games here but never regular season games.

Many players in the National Hockey League now come from Europe and European fan interest is growing. Because of this, NHL Commissioner⁴ Gary Bettman says starting the season in London this year makes a lot of sense.

"We are responding to interest," he said.  "Bringing over a couple of regular season games is a way to deal with that and bringing our best product as opposed to exhibition games. And obviously we are the first here. You know I think there's a basketball league that has got a couple of exhibition games here coming shortly. There is a football league that has got a regular season game coming.  The world is shrinking and people have the luxury of using the Internet and satellite and cable TV, digital media to follow sports on a worldwide basis and we are trying to be good citizens in the hockey world in terms of being responsive to fan interest and trying to grow the game."  

Bettman says do not expect to see an NHL franchise⁵ here anytime soon, but more of these games could become an annual fixture⁶.

Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings, Marc Crawford says broadening⁷ the horizons is good and this unusual way of starting the season has been good for his players.

"I think anytime you can come and experience something new it is always very, very beneficial and I am sure that any team in the league would love to do that," he said.  "I think that the success here you know, with the games being sold out without it being done, it shows that there is a real market for the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League brand. So, I hope the games are great. I think that will be the best selling point. If you have entertaining and exciting games, then I think that this will be something that the league can look at and maybe do on a regular basis."

Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger says mixing hockey and sightseeing has been a good combination.

"We did kind of a little bus tour with the [Stanley] Cup and went to Big Ben, I think Tower Bridge, [we] drove by Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey and some of those places so, it was kind of neat to see a lot of the history behind London and whatnot yesterday I got to see some golfing and a little more history behind the British Open and things like that so, it was pretty neat," he said.

And a huge worldwide audience is expected. The games are being telecast around the world to some 115 countries.

1 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

2 amateur   

adj.业余的，非专业的；n.业余爱好者

参考例句：

• He made an amateur attempt to build a cupboard.他很外行地试做了一个碗柜。
• Although Tom's only an amateur he's a first-class player.虽然汤姆只是个业余爱好者，但却是一流的高手。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

6 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

7 broadening   

加宽

参考例句：

• Traveling with the bands was a broadening experience for the musicians, who were usually self- taught. 和这些乐队一起旅行使那些平素全靠自学的乐师们开阔了眼界。
• This variety of controls contributed to a broadening use of the toolbar. 这种控件变体扩展了工具栏的用途。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓