International hockey chief tells AP he’ll work tirelessly to get NHL players to next Olympics

CP27161945
Members of the Canadian men\'s ice hockey team gather for a group photo before a training session at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

SOCHI, Russia – International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel says he will do everything he can to convince the NHL and its players to participate in the 2018 Olympics.

Ultimately, though, he acknowledges it will be up to them.

Fasel told The Associated Press on Tuesday he’s looking forward to meeting with league and union officials soon.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is scheduled to arrive in Russia next week to witness what might be the last Olympics with NHL players.

The league and players’ association haven’t committed to going to Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.

Fasel says there’s no chance hockey could be moved to the Summer Games — to avoid interrupting NHL seasons — and he’s not in favour of a World Cup of Hockey replacing best-on-best hockey at the Olympics.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles