I stopped by the Ice Den in Scottsdale this morning to watch a bunch of locked-out National Hockey League players face off in a well-publicized scrimmage.

A number of Phoenix players who have chosen not to play abroad or in the minors – including “Captain Coyote” Shane Doan – have been working out at the Ice Den since the lockout began. This week they were joined by Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby, San Jose forward Patrick Marleau, Buffalo (and Team USA) goalie Ryan Miller, Dallas forward Brendan Morrow and several other out-of-town players.

The guys undoubtedly benefited from practicing at full speed with goalies and refs, but that wasn’t the only agenda. There was a clear public-relations component, and the message was: “We want to play, but the owners won’t let us.”

Though the week’s workouts have been characterized as a hastily planned mini training camp, the players on the ice were wearing matching practice jerseys – one side in white, the other in black, but both with the NHL Players’ Association logo on the front. By including some of the league’s biggest stars, the organizers guaranteed the attention of the hockey media. A number of the big-name players made themselves available for interviews.

As one would expect in a labor/management dispute, both sides are vying for the support of fans and the public. The NFL referees’ strike earlier this fall showed how quickly matters can be resolved when public sentiment reaches a tipping point one way or the other.

###

Tags: Brendan Morrow, National Hockey League, NHL, NHL Players' Association, NHLPA, Patrick Marleau, Phoenix Coyotes, Ryan Miller, Shane Doan, Sidney Crosby