NHL lockout officially ends with MOU

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TORONTO, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The NHL and its players union Saturday signed a memorandum of understand to officially end a 113-day lockout and begin the season Jan. 19.

Members of the NHL Players Association ratified a collective bargaining agreement with the league Saturday, overwhelmingly approving the 10-year labor deal three days after team owners issued a similar approval.

All that remained to end the lockout and proceed with a 48-game season beginning Jan. 19 was for the two sides to initial a memorandum of understanding covering the one-week interim period, which was completed later in the day.

The league then released a truncated 2013 schedule, in which 26 of its 30 teams are set to play on the first day.

The regular season ends April 27 with the Stanley Cup playoffs starting three days later under the setup.

Each team will play 18 games against divisional foes and three games against the remaining 10 non-divisional opponents from within its conference under the new schedule.