Page 22 - AT SEPT 10

A22

SPORTSThursday 10 September

NHL players set for World Cup of Hockey; Olympics unclear

LARRY LAGE to like shutting down their
league for two-plus weeks
AP Hockey Writer in the middle of the sea-
son while hoping their stars
TORONTO (AP) — The World don’t get injured at the
Olympics. But Fasel said a
Cup of Hockey is coming big-picture view is best for
the sport.
back, and NHL Commis- “If you want to grow the
game globally, you have
sioner Gary Bettman insists to take risks every four
years that some of your top
that doesn’t necessarily players will be injured,” Fa-
sel said.
mean the league will skip However, NHL owners will
be exposing about 150 of
the 2018 Olympics. their players to injuries and
ailments just before next
“I don’t think one has any- season by signing off on
the World Cup of Hockey.
thing to do with the other,” The eight teams will be put
in two groups with the top
Bettman said in an inter- two in each advancing to
the semifinals. The finals will
view with The Associated be a best-of-three series,
lasting no later than Oct. 1
Press on Wednesday. of next year.
The U.S. will open the com-
While Bettman didn’t sound petition against Team
Europe on Sept. 17 and
enthused about the idea the host Canadians will
face the Czechs later that
of the league’s players go- night at the Toronto Maple
Leafs’ arena, where all the
ing to Pyeongchang, South games will be played. The
Americans upset Canada
Korea, he acknowledged in the first World Cup of
Hockey in 1996, and the
being intrigued by the pros- Canadians beat Finland
eight years later.
pects of taking the sport to Instead of arguing over
collective-bargaining
the other side of the world agreements or player-
team issues, Bettman and
for the 2022 Winter Olym- Fehr have collaborated
to make the return of the
pics in Beijing. Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby waits to be introduced as Team Canada’s representative, dur- World Cup of Hockey a re-
“Not to diminish South Ko- ing a televised event to promote the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, on Wednesday Sept. ality.
rea, but in terms of sheer 9, 2015. “Finally, we’re working to-
magnitude, it’s not the gether and that’s very im-
same as China,” Bettman Associated Press portant and bodes well to
said in the NHL’s Toronto- our long-term relationship,”
based office. rector Don Fehr. this kind of tournament,” tions about whether NHL Bettman said at the news
International Ice Hockey Bettman, Fehr and several Fehr said. players will be allowed to conference.q
Federation President Rene players attended a news There also will be 23-and- compete at the Olympics
Fasel said hockey’s best conference Wednesday to under players from North as they have since 1998.
shot to grow is in Asia after promote the World Cup of America and European Players made it clear they
establishing roots in North Hockey, which hasn’t been countries such as Switzer- want to keep going to the
America and Europe. held since 2004. The eight- land, Slovenia and Ger- Winter Games every four
“If we can make our sport team, two-week tourna- many — just to name a years.
strong there, we really will ment event will be held in few — which raised a good “Obviously, we all know the
have a great future,” Fasel Toronto, where the host question. impact of the Olympics,”
said in a telephone inter- Canadians will likely be a “Whose anthem will they said Sidney Crosby, who
view. strong favorite against a play if they win the tourna- has helped Canada win
Fasel said he is working on field that includes the Unit- ment?” Canadian center two straight Olympic gold
a date to begin Olympic- ed States, Russia, Sweden, Steven Stamkos asked. medals. “It’s a great brand
related discussions with Finland and the Czech Re- The NHL and NHLPA, which of hockey. I don’t see one
Bettman and NHL Players’ public. is teaming up for the ven- changing the other.”
Association Executive Di- “This is going to be the best ture, didn’t have the an- Swedish goaltender Hen-
collection of hockey talent swer. rik Lundqvist hopes that
that’s ever been around in Both parties dodged ques- proves to be true.
“I think it’s a great experi-

ence even if it’s a long trip

Tom Dumoulin wins Vuelta to get to the Olympics,”
Lundqvist said. “”It’s very

stage 17 time trial, leads overall unique and special. As
an athlete to be there, it’s
tough to beat.”

BURGOS, Spain (AP) — Tom well this time trial went,” specialists. Team owners don’t seem

Dumoulin of Netherlands Dumoulin said. “I am now Dumoulin said he expect-

won the individual time-tri- a contender for the Vuelta, ed the hardest day to

al in the Spanish Vuelta on but the race in not over.” come would be Saturday’s

Wednesday to reclaim the With four days of racing re- stage 20, a 175.8 kilometer

race leader’s red jersey on maining, the overall stand- (109.2 mile) mountainous

the 17th stage. ings are very close as Fabio ride from San Lorenzo de El

The tall, 24-year-old Giant- Aru is just three seconds be- Escorial to Cercedilla that

Alpecin rider clocked 46 hind Dumoulin, while over- includes four category 1

minutes, one second, over night leader Joaquin Ro- peaks.

the 38.7 kilometer (24-mile) driguez is now third overall Thursday’s stage is a 204 ki-

course in and around the and 1:15 off the pace. lometer (126.8 mile) moun-

northern city of Burgos. He Although the skies were tainous ride from Roa to Ri-

beat Maciej Bodnar of Po- overcast and some light aza including the category

land by one minute, 4 sec- rain coated parts of the 1 ascent up Puerto de la

onds, while Spain’s Alejan- road surface, making it Quesera.

dro Valverde was third fast- potentially dangerous, The 21-stage Vuelta ends

est, trailing by 1:08. Dumoulin was able to out- with a ride into downtown

“I am very happy with how pace all the other sprint Madrid on Sunday.q