Would an NHL lockout affect your love of hockey?

The NHL and its players are facing a midnight deadline on Saturday to reach a collective agreement, or the league will lock out its players, delaying or possibly even cancelling the 2012-2013 hockey season.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman listens as he meets with reporters after a meeting with team owners, Thursday in New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP)Hockey fans will surely remember the 2004-05 NHL season being eliminated out by a lockout and cutting the 1994-95 season nearly in half.

You can forgive NHL fans for getting fed up with the labour disputes disrupting their favourite sport. This frustration is playing out in the comments of our stories.

• "To all NHL fans who have spent hundreds of dollars on tickets to watch a single game, or to those who have spent many thousands on season tickets, or those who have purchased NHL jerseys, T-shirts, and other merchandise to support their teams. How do you feel now, when millionaires and billionaires squabble over how to divide more than $3.3 billion of your money?" said smiller8.
  
  
• "I must admit, this time around, I don't really care. I don't enjoy the product as much since [NHL Commissioner Gary] Bettman got his hands on the game," said Lasher500.
  
  
• "I'm getting to the point where I don't care," said Kidderby. "I love hockey but a small part of me would love to see a 3 year lockout and no television contracts. Put the price of hockey tickets back into the hands of the fans, not the corporations. Wishful thinking I know."

And many commenters, rather than giving up on hockey altogether, will be watching the game played on different levels.

• "OHL, here I come!" said cornerboardsmonster.
  
  
• "Got season tickets to my local hockey in my town. To hell with the pro teams," said Yukon_10.
  
  
• "Have any of you seen Canadian college hockey? Really good, exciting and played by those who do it for the pure joy of the game and not greed. Take some games in this year," said MikeM_NS.

Would an NHL lockout affect your love of hockey? Let us know what you think.



(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)