Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

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Wednesday 4 OctOber 2017
NHL stars who grew up with Olympics face season without it

By STEPHEN WHYNO NHL owners, who saw no
AP Hockey Writer tangible benefit from stop-
The NHL became entwined ping the season for over
with the Olympics before two weeks to let players
young stars like Connor take part in the Olympics.
McDavid, Jack Eichel or “The fact of the matter is,
Auston Matthews even we find the Olympics in-
pulled on a pair of skates. credibly disruptive with no
Nagano in 1998 started a positive benefit, no op-
string of five consecutive portunity to promote our
Olympics featuring NHL presence or anything else
players, a tradition that of the Olympic experi-
became so routine that ence,” Commissioner Gary
young players around the Bettman said. “We have
world added dreams of enough experience to un-
winning a gold medal to derstand what the Olym-
their hopes of someday lift- pics represents. The people
ing the Stanley Cup. who suggest that some-
“I’ve always been alive in how this is an opportunity
the days where the NHL to grow the game, it didn’t
teams allow their players to grow the game in Japan,
go to the Olympics,” Eichel it didn’t grow the game in
said. “I’ve had a lot of Italy.”
good memories watching The league believes play-
the Olympics and seeing ing exhibition games in
a lot of great players play, China and regular-season
so it’s something you’ve al- games in Sweden does
ways looked up to.” more to grow the game
There’s nothing to look for- In this Sept. 6, 2016, file photo, Team North America forwards Auston Matthews, left, and Connor than the Olympics. But
ward to this time: Instead McDavid skate during the team’s World Cup of Hockey practice in Montreal. NBC Sports, which has the
of going to South Korea Associated Press league’s national televi-
this winter to play for their tournament. Whoever wins quite yet. simply expressed frustra- sion rights, will instead be
home countries, NHL play- it, hopefully Canada wins Russian superstar Alex tion that a lifelong dream showing the Olympics
ers face an 82-game sea- it. That’d be awesome. But Ovechkin, who was vo- and a chance at Russia’s this February with no NHL
son that will keep right it just won’t feel the same. cal about saying he’d go first Olympic gold with games scheduled on its
on going on during the They’re not world champi- no matter what, said last NHL players was snatched networks between Feb. 8
Olympics. The Games will ons, technically, because month that he and other away. and Feb. 25, the day of the
instead include a mix of they’re not the best play- players have never had to “It’s very disappointing gold-medal game, and
players from the minors, ers.” choose between their NHL you’re not going to have the trade deadline set for
colleges and Europe. Almost six months since the teams and the Olympics, the chance to be there Feb. 26.
“It’s going to be weird for league announced it would and “should not have to when we have as short of During that time, New York
everybody,” said Colora- skip the Pyeongchang be in position to make this careers as we do,” Swedish Rangers captain Ryan Mc-
do Avalanche forward Na- Olympics, most of the NHL’s choice.” Washington Capi- defenseman and Ottawa Donagh expects team-
than MacKinnon, who was best players are resigned tals teammate Evgeny Senators captain Erik Karls- mates to root for their
hoping to make Canada’s to their missed opportunity. Kuznetsov said after not son said. “It’s going to be countries. Considering the
Olympic team. “It won’t That Canada won’t have making the team for Sochi some guys’ only opportu- 13-hour difference from the
feel right watching other Sidney Crosby and Jona- that he thought about sign- nity to go and they’re not Eastern time zone (noon ET
guys wear that maple leaf than Toews to go for the ing in the Kontinental Hock- going to be able to since is 1 a.m. the following day
and they’re good players, three-peat, that McDavid, ey League so he could it’s not our decision to not in Pyeongchang), it may
but they’re not the best Matthews and Eichel won’t play in Korea, while coun- attend.” be difficult for players to
players in the world at that make their Olympic debuts tryman Vladimir Tarasenko That decision belonged to watch, but many will try.q
NBA changes All-Star Game

format; captains will pick teams

serves. Paul of the Houston Rock- The 10 starters will continue
The change will begin with ets said in a statement. to be chosen by a combi-
this season’s game in Los “We’re looking forward to nation of fan, player and
Angeles on Feb. 18. putting on an entertaining media balloting, with the
Players and league officials show in LA.” coaches from each con-
have been eager to inject The sides worked closely ference then selecting the
new interest in the often — with Charlotte owner 14 reserves.
defense-absent game, Michael Jordan, chairman The captains will then draft
and they decided to act of the league’s Labor Rela- their teams at an unde-
after another dull affair last tions Committee, heavily in- termined time — making
February in New Orleans. volved in the conversations certain that those chosen
By BRIAN MAHONEY son. “I’m thrilled with what the — and chose a format that starters are split up so they
AP Basketball Writer The league said Tuesday players and the league has been used by the NFL remain starters.
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA that the leading vote-get- have done to improve the and NHL for what will be The teams will play for char-
is scrapping the East vs. ter from each conference All-Star Game, which has the first NBA All-Star Game ity. They will select either a
West format for its All-Star will choose teams from the been a priority for all of us,” that doesn’t pit the Eastern Los Angeles-area or nation-
Game and will have cap- pool of players who were National Basketball Players Conference against the al organization for dona-
tains pick teams this sea- voted as starters and re- Association president Chris Western Conference. tions to go.q