FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

ROSEMONT, Ill (AP) NHLPA head Donald Fehr says the players are unified as they face the threat of a lockout from owners if a new collective bargaining agreement can't be reached.

Fehr met for part of two days with about 40 players at a hotel outside of O'Hare International Airport.

The union will hold similar informational meetings next week in British Columbia and Toronto.

Fehr said it's no surprise to the hockey players to hear about the possibility of a lockout, especially since both the NFL and NBA have recently weathered shutdowns.

He said the players fully understand what the ramifications of a work stoppage would mean, since most of them are familiar with what happened when the NHL shut down in 2004.

        AP-WF-08-17-12 1903GMT<