The NHL has officially announced that its players wonB次元官网网址檛 be going to the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The move, confirmed to The Canadian Press on Tuesday by a person with direct knowledge of the decision, comes amid COVID-19 concerns that have seen an explosion of cases and 45 games postponed since Dec. 13.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement that B次元官网网址減rofound disruptionB次元官网网址 to the leagueB次元官网网址檚 schedule caused by COVID-19-related events made Olympic participation B次元官网网址渘o longer feasible.B次元官网网址
The NHL and NHLPA officially committed to sending players to China for the 2022 Games back in September, but that agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation allowed either party to withdraw if COVID-19 conditions rendered participation B次元官网网址渋mpractical or unsafe.B次元官网网址
The league currently has more than 15 per cent of its players in virus protocol, forcing a string of postponements.
NHL PlayersB次元官网网址 Association executive director Don Fehr said in a statement that while players are disappointed in not being able to participate in the Beijing Games, completing an 82-game season in a campaign mired with interruptions caused by COVID-19 took precedence.
Fehr said he expects that NHL players will return to the Olympics in 2026.
B次元官网网址擳he Canadian Press