05-10-2013, 08:02 AM
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#1
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Some kinda newsbreaker!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Learning Phaneufs skating style
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NHL close to agreeing to 2014 Olympic Participation
http://www.iihf.com/competition/352/...html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=7123&cHash=62e534b5db
Quote:
IHF President René Fasel opened the meeting with the following encouraging words:
“We are working hard to putting together the last pieces to ensure NHL players’ participation in Sochi. We have some issues left, but I, as always, remain optimistic.”
Fasel did not mention a date for when a final agreement with the NHL/NHLPA needs be reached, but NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly echoed the optimism:
“We are proceeding under the assumption that the NHL will participate in Sochi. We are still working on important issues with the IIHF and the IOC, and subject to our board of governors’ consideration and approval, it remains the objective that Sochi will be the fifth consecutive Olympics with NHL participation and where the NHL shuts down for the duration of the Olympic tournament.”
Daly informed the meeting’s participants about the NHL’s logistical schedule with regards to taking a break for the Olympics. It will be as follows:
- All players will travel by charter from four North American hubs to Sochi.
- The last playing day prior to the Olympic break is scheduled for February 8, 2014, with approximately half of the 30 teams playing on that day and half on February 7.
- The selected players will depart on February 8 or 9. They will arrive in Sochi on the 10th with Tuesday 11th being a full practice day. The men’s tournament opens on February 12.
- The NHL’s regular season schedule will resume on February 25, two days after the Gold Medal Game in Sochi.
The Deputy Commissioner outlined some other issues which are of critical importance for the league, beginning with player insurance.
“There is obviously a risk involved when you bring over a projected 160-180 NHL players where the total contract value would be around $3 billion. This is a risk which must be insured, especially in cases of season-ending or career-ending injuries.”
Daly broached several other critical areas of concern:
- Access to media coverage, looking for advantages for exposure especially on the league’s own platforms, NHL-TV and NHL.com. “We want to promote the fact that the NHL and its players are participating in the Olympics during a period when our league shuts down.”
- Medical access: NHL/NHLPA professional medics will follow every game
- In agreement with the IIHF, the NHL will send seven referees and six linesmen to Sochi. NHL on-ice officials have also been at the Olympics since Nagano 1998.
- There will be twelve NHL security professionals, assisting the already existing security contingent.
Daly stopped short of giving a date for final confirmation of NHL participation but ended his presentation by saying that, “hopefully sometime soon we will be able to give the recommendation to our board of governors regarding our league’s Olympic participation.”
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must show all Flames games nationally when they play on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays !!!
