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SPORTS Monday 13 February 2017

Hockey prepares Plan B if NHL players don’t go to Olympics

STEPHEN WHYNO ey will look mostly to the
AP Hockey Writer college ranks. If Hockey
If the NHL doesn’t send its Canada can’t take Sidney
players to the 2018 Winter Crosby, Jonathan Toews,
Olympics, the hockey tour- Drew Doughty or Carey
nament in Pyeongchang Price, it will try to defend
will look familiar. the gold medal with a mix
It will look a lot like the of European-based pro-
Olympics in Lillehammer in fessionals, North American
1994, Albertville in 1992 and minor leaguers and players
Calgary in 1988. from the Canadian junior
Maybe even a little like leagues and NCAA.
1980 in Lake Placid, site of “It’s a big world, and we’ve
the “Miracle On Ice.” got to make sure that
With a year before the we’re ready to go,” Hock-
opening ceremony, the ey Canada president Tom
league, players union, In- Renney said. “Should the
ternational Ice Hockey NHL choose not to go, we’ll
Federation and Interna- make sure we’re ready,
tional Olympic Committee willing and able a year
still don’t have an agree- from now.”
ment to send NHL players The U.S. has a fresh set
to their sixth consecutive of heroes after shootout
Olympics. There is still time star Troy Terry, defense- Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) is tripped by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovech-
kin (8), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Wash-
— an agreement last time man Charlie McAvoy and ington. If the NHL doesn’t send its players to the 2018 Winter Olympics, the hockey tournament in
around came in July be- goaltender Tyler Parsons Pyeongchang will look familiar.
fore the 2014 Games in So- won world junior gold last (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
chi — but everyone is form- month. Mix them with top
ing a Plan B just in case. college players like Notre ing, scoring and more scor- No problem there for Can- ing.
Russia might have Alex Dame’s Anders Bjork and ing. ada, which has plenty of While IIHF President Rene
Ovechkin if he makes good Wisconsin’s Trent Frederic “You can’t win unless you big, tough skill players and Fasel would like a final de-
on his intention to go no and ex-NHLers Keith Au- can score,” Starman said. hasn’t waited for the IIHF to cision sooner than later to
matter what. coin and Nathan Gerbe “It’s got to have a ton of set any 2018 parameters as plan for South Korea, Ren-
But the United States, Can- who are playing in Europe, speed, it’s got to have a it prepares its contingency ney said Hockey Canada
ada and other countries and the Americans will really high skill level, it’s got plan. Canada’s team for could put a team together
are preparing for life with- have plenty of youth and to have defensemen who the December Spengler quickly. Like USA Hockey,
out the best players in the experience. can get in the play. You Cup in Switzerland could Canada can pull from its
world. Dave Starman, a for- need a little bit of dog on serve as a blueprint: minor national junior team but
If the likes of Patrick Kane, mer coach in the minors bone in your lineup, but I leaguers Cory Conacher has more veteran talent in
Jonathan Quick, Jack and now an analyst for don’t think you can sac- and Zach Fucale and Eu- Europe and the American
Eichel and Ryan Suter CBS Sports, said USA Hock- rifice skill guys for tough- ropean recent NHL players Hockey League to choose
aren’t available, USA Hock- ey’s priority should be scor- ness.” Daniel Paille and Nick Spal- from. q