When were NHL players not allowed in the Olympics?
The 2022 Olympics marks the second-straight Winter Games that didn’t include the best players in the world competing in men’s ice hockey. In 2018, the NHL did not send players to PyeongChang due to travel costs and scheduling issues.
Can NHL hockey players play in the Olympics?
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association agreed Tuesday to not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Beijing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing concerns over the delta and omicron variants.
Will NHL players ever play in the Olympics again?
Concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic — along with a wave of shutdowns across the league — has forced the NHL to prohibit its players from playing the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Why are NHL players not in 2022 Olympics?
According to league commissioner Gary Bettman in the league’s withdrawal statement, due to “the profound disruption to the NHL’s regular-season schedule caused by recent COVID-related events … Olympic participation is no longer feasible.”
Why are NHL players not in the 2022 Olympics?
Why the NHL did not send players the 2022 Winter Olympics. The league released a statement on Dec. 22 stating COVID-19 would prevent the NHL from sending players to Beijing. Stay informed about local news and weather.
Will 2022 Olympics have NHL players?
Olympic organizers confirmed the decision on Wednesday. The coming Olympic Games Beijing 2022, set for February, will be without National Hockey League players. The NHL, based in the U.S., announced the move on Tuesday (21 December), with Olympic officials confirming the decision on Wednesday.
Are NHL players allowed in the Olympics 2022?
The NHL produces some of the best hockey players in the world, so it would make sense to see these athletes perform during one of the biggest athletic competitions: the Olympics. NHL players are not participating in the 2022 Winter Games.
Who is the greatest hockey player ever?
Wayne Gretzky shattered long-standing records, notably scoring an unprecedented 894 goals. He also earned four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers (1984–85, 1987–88) and was named the NHL’s MVP nine (!) times (1980–87, 1989).
Why are NHL players not playing in the Olympics?
NHL players will not be allowed to participate in the Beijing Olympics after the league pulled the plug amid a rash of postponements caused by positive COVID-19 test results.
Could the NHL return to the Olympics in 2026?
Despite the NHL not being part of the Olympics for just the second time since 1998, Bettman, Fehr and Tardif expressed optimism about a return for 2026. The league and NHLPA have a deal for Olympic participation as part of their collective bargaining agreement extension through that year.
Should NHL players be allowed to represent their countries in tournaments?
“The National Hockey League respects and admires the desire of NHL players to represent their countries and participate in a ‘best on best’ tournament,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.