Sen. Kerry 'dreams' of playing in the NHL

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) would do something about the National Hockey League lockout, but it would dash his "dreams of being a replacement player."

The threat of replacement players is typically used during labor dispute negotiations like the one delaying the start of the NHL season, and it sounds like Kerry is ready to line up for the chance to hit the ice this season. 

As a senator, Kerry cannot do much about the nearly three-month labor dispute, but a Twitter follower — and likely fellow hockey fan — asked him for help anyway, prompting Kerry's response on Thursday. 

and dash my dreams of being a replacement player? MT @dbernstein @johnkerry, can't you do something about NHL lockout? We need Bruins back

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) December 6, 2012

Kerry, a longtime amateur player, might not get a call from the NHL anytime soon, but he does have some credibility in the rink. In January, he showed up at a White House event with two black eyes and a broken nose after getting hit in the face by a hockey stick wielded during an otherwise friendly game over the holidays. 

Hockey fan Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) was less sanguine about the NHL lockout earlier this week, when he warned that the NHL and the players union — much like lawmakers in Washington — need to "come to the table soon ready for serious negotiation."

"#NHLlockout bad for fans but really hurts local #SmallBiz that depend on gameday revenue to meet their bottom line," Quigley tweeted on Tuesday.

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