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Tuesday 4 April 2017
NHL ices Olympics, says no to 2018 Games in South Korea
STEPHEN WHYNO marketing opportunities ing out for the good of the of the other parties who Still, many players ex-
AP Hockey Writer tied to the Games. The game,” prominent agent might have an interest in pressed a strong desire to
The NHL announced Mon- league wanted the matter Allan Walsh tweeted. “So the issue,” the NHL said. go, and Ovechkin has said
day that it will not par- resolved before the play- much for that grand part- “Instead, the IOC has now he plans to go regardless of
ticipate in the 2018 Winter offs begin April 12. nership with the players.” expressed the position that NHL participation.
Olympics in South Korea, “The league’s efforts to The NHL and NHLPA the NHL’s participation “I think the players know
refusing for the first time in blame others for its deci- teamed up on the return in Beijing in 2022 is condi- it’s very important for us to
20 years to halt its season sion is as unfortunate as the of the World Cup of Hock- tioned on our participation represent our countries,”
for three weeks so its stars decision itself,” the NHLPA the Washington Capitals
can chase gold for their said. “NHL players are pa- This March 17, 2017 file photo shows NHL Commissioner Gary star said last month. “Every-
home countries. triotic and they do not Bettman speaking with the media following a news conference body wants to go there.”
From Alex Ovechkin and take this lightly. A decent in Ottawa. The NHL has not decided
Jonathan Toews to Con- respect for the opinions of whether to allow teams
nor McDavid and Henrik the players matters. This Associated Press to make decisions on a
Lundqvist, the world’s best is the NHL’s decision, and case-by-case basis about
players called playing in its alone.” Toronto Maple ey last fall and had made in South Korea in 2018. And players participating in
the Olympics important. Leafs coach Mike Bab- strides on growing the sport the NHLPA has now pub- the 2018 Olympics. “If Alex
The league decided other- cock, who led Canada to internationally, including licly confirmed that it has Ovechkin and Braden Holt-
wise. consecutive Olympic gold games in China and Swe- no interest or intention of by and Nick Backstrom tell
Commissioner Gary Bett- medals in 2010 and 2014, den later this year. engaging in any discussion us, ‘We want to go play
man and Deputy Commis- told The Associated Press The NHL has not ruled out that might make Olympic for our country,’ how am
sioner Bill Daly informed the in a text message he was participating in the 2022 participation more attrac- I going to say no?” Capi-
NHL Players’ Association “disappointed.” Olympics in Beijing, though tive to the clubs.” tals owner Ted Leonsis said
that the matter was “offi- Players immediately blast- the IIHF and IOC had indi- The IOC and IIHF did not im- in February. “I might get
cially closed” after weeks ed the decision. Montreal cated that could be condi- mediately respond to the fined, I might get punished
of speculation. Canadiens goaltender tional on the NHL going to NHL’s decision. in some way, but I feel I’m
The NHLPA said in a state- Carey Price, in Sochi under South Korea. For now, the The league has cited the in partnership with Nick and
ment that players are “ex- Babcock, called it “very league is making its 2017-18 13-hour difference from Braden and Alex.” It was
traordinarily disappointed disappointing” and said it schedule without a break Pyeongchang to the East- not immediately clear how
and adamantly disagree was short-changing young- for the Olympics. ern time zone as one of its the United States, Canada
with the NHL’s shortsighted er players who hadn’t got “We have previously made concerns. There was a 13- and other countries will fill
decision.” to experience it before. clear that, while the over- hour difference to Nagano Olympic rosters, though na-
The NHL had allowed its “Disappointing news, (the whelming majority of our in 1998, six to Turin in 2006 tional federations have al-
players to participate in the NHL) won’t be part of the clubs are adamantly op- and nine to Sochi in 2014. ready begun planning for
past five Olympics dating Olympics 2018. A huge posed to disrupting the Team owners have long this possibility. Hockey Can-
to 1998, giving the Winter opportunity to market the 2017-18 NHL season for pur- complained that stopping ada said Monday that the
Games pro-level star pow- game at the biggest stage poses of accommodating the NHL season every four NHL’s statement was not
er akin to the NBA players is wasted,” tweeted Lun- Olympic participation by years wasn’t worth it and what it was hoping for but
who participate in the Sum- dqvist, the New York Rang- some NHL players, we were they have been wary of in- will not change Olympic
mer Olympics. ers goaltender who won open to hearing from any juries to star players. preparation.
The league said no mean- the 2006 Olympic gold “We knew it was a very real
ingful dialogue had medal with Sweden. possibility for many months
emerged in talks with the “But most of all, disap- and certainly respect the
NHLPA, International Olym- pointing for all the players decision of the NHL,” USA
pic Committee and Inter- that can’t be part of the Hockey executive director
national Ice Hockey Fed- most special adventure in Dave Ogrean said.
eration. sports.” Former NHL forward “The good news is that
Even after the IIHF had Brandon Prust, who’s now because of our grassroots
agreed to pay for players’ playing in Germany, tweet- efforts over the course of
travel and insurance costs ed: “Way to ruin the sport many years, our player
when the IOC refused, of hockey even more Gary pool is as deep as it has
the NHL had been looking #Olympics.” ever been and we fully ex-
for more concessions that “Good to see the NHL and pect to field a team that
were believed to include Gary Bettman always look- will play for a medal.”q
