NHL Stars Unlikely to Feature in Pyeongchang

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said “people should assume” that players from the North American ice hockey league will not be competing at next year’s winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

 Next year’s Games in South Korea are due to take place from February 9-25 – halfway through the NHL season – and the league has expressed its concerns over players picking up injuries while competing in Pyeongchang and playing in a market where the sport is not a major player.

The NHL, IOC and International Hockey Federation have had preliminary discussions regarding the possibility of NHL players featuring in the Games, but talks have reportedly hit a standstill.

Bettman said there “may not be any next steps” in the discussion process.