Why the wings are off the ice.(Detroit Red Wings)

In a few weeks, it will be Thanksgiving. Outside the leaves have turned from green to red and yellow, and if you are like the Yak, you already have been to your favorite orchard to pick apples.

But something is missing from this fall season, isn't it? Where are the Red Wings?

The Yak set about to find out. He tracked down several Red Wings players, and also got a hold of the team's vice president, Jimmy Devellano.

They told the Yak some pretty disappointing news: We may not see any professional hockey at all this season.

It all began September 15, when something called a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association expired. The CBA was an agreement between the two sides that talked about many things including the contracts of players. For example, a player can become an unrestricted free agent when he turns 31 years old (that means he can sign with any team he chooses without there being any restrictions on him).

The league and the players union tried to negotiate a new agreement, but they had very different opinions on what that new agreement should say. So at midnight on September 15 the 30 owners instituted what is called a lockout, meaning they refused to let their players come to work. All the owners agreed to do what the league told them to.

"I think the league is doing the right thing," Jimmy Devellano said. "I really do. I agree with the league we do need some type of system."