A decision by the United States Department of Transportation could have a major impact on Canadian teams in the National Hockey League this season, reports the National Post.

The Department of Transportation in the United States has banned Air Canada's charter planes from flying from one American city to another.

"It's potentially a very significant impact," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Canwest News Services on Friday. "It's crazy and very destabilizing to our business. We're operating on a long-standing interpretation and for it to change overnight on the eve of our season is creating a huge problem for us."

Prior to a recent August ruling by the U.S. government, charter flights that carried sports teams could make several stops in American cities. The new ruling means the charters can only make one stop before heading back to Canada.

In retaliation, Canadian officials have launched an investigation to determine if they will take similar action against charters carrying sports teams from the United States.

"It's extremely messy for both American and Canadian teams," Air Canada executive vice president Duncan Dee told Canwest. "It was a unilateral action imposed without consultation or Air Canada being able to defend itself. It's obvious the U.S. Department of Transportation doesn't watch hockey."

Officials in the United States had been looking into a small number of instances of passengers - injured players or team officials – on the plane boarding in one city and then leaving the charter in another city, a violation of the original agreement.

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i wonder if Bettman has anything to do with this..keep canadian teams out

Bettman has long overstayed his welcome. Will his pockets ever be lined deep enough to get out and give the sport a chance to advance in cities that can actually support hockey? How about baseball? Does the same thing apply to the Jays? Those are the only sports I can think of with mixed American and Canadian franchises. What ever happened to common sense?

Since when has any bureacrat either Canadian or American ever have common sense?

Not good for sports teams in Canada

I am sure in the end things will work out

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