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NHL'S CZECH MATE

The Czech Republic has become the latest ice hockey federation to ratify a new transfer agreement between European teams and the NHL.

The new two-year deal regulates the amount of financial compensation due to clubs when players move to the lucrative US league and assures NHL players will take part in the Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

Other countries signing up to the deal include Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and Slovakia.

So far only Russia has refused to back the scheme.