HOCKEY SEASON ON THIN ICE

Tomorrow's scheduled start of the hockey season was delayed today by the National Hockey League. Despite an offer extended by players yesterday not to strike and to play without a collective-bargaining agreement, N.H.L. commissioner Gary Bettman decided a contract was necessary. Both sides will return to the negotiating table, but players will not take to the ice in the interim. If a deal is struck in the next two weeks, officials say that regular season games can be made up.