NHL, locked-out players hold more meetings

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NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Negotiators for the National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association resumed talks Wednesday on ending the lockout, amid new hope for a deal, ESPN said.

After a 7-hour collective bargaining session Tuesday in New York, the talks picked up again Wednesday afternoon at an undisclosed location, the broadcaster said.

The negotiations were set for 1 p.m. but were delayed until 3:30 p.m. due to internal meetings and last-minute work within the NHLPA side, the report indicated.

Tuesday's session sparked hope league owners and players were moving toward a settlement on core economic issues.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, said after the Tuesday meetings "the league will not characterize the substance or detail of the discussions until their conclusion."

Tuesday was the second face-to-face meeting in four days between the NHL and NHLPA after the two sides had gone more than two weeks without meeting.

The NHL and NHLPA have been without a contract since Sept. 15. The league has canceled the 2012-13 regular season schedule through Nov. 30 and the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, which had been scheduled for Jan. 1.