Hockey followers hoping to see the return of worldwide best-on-best competitors are going to get their fill over the subsequent few years. On Friday, the NHL introduced that NHL gamers would take part within the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics, in addition to a “4 Nations Face-Off” in 2025.
NHL gamers haven’t competed on the Olympics since 2014, when Canada defeated Sweden to win the gold medal. Lately, NHL gamers have been clamoring for a return to Olympic play, and that’s now a actuality.
In a joint press convention on the NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto, the NHL, NHLPA, and IIHF introduced the Olympic information.
“The worldwide composition of Nationwide Hockey League rosters is unparalleled, and NHL Gamers take nice delight in representing their international locations,” Bettman stated in a press release. “We’re happy that right now, after intense collaborative efforts with the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation and the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation, we are able to formally announce that NHL Gamers will take part in each the 2026 and 2030 Olympic hockey tournaments.”
When discussing the largest hurdles to getting NHL gamers again to the Olympics, Bettman stated he wanted assurances about who would pay for the “large ticket gadgets.” Funding for insurance coverage, journey and lodging for the households had been among the many most necessary elements of the discussions between the NHL, NHLPA, and IIHF.
IIHF president Luc Tardif additionally confirmed that ice hockey on the 2026 Olympics in Italy will probably be performed on NHL-sized rinks (200 ft. x 85 ft.).
Following the press convention relating to the Olympics, the NHL and NHLPA unveiled plans for the 4 Nations Face-Off, involving Canada, america, Sweden and Finland. The occasion will probably be held in two North American cities, one in Canada and the opposite in America.
NHL stars Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Sebastian Aho and Elias Pettersson had been on the stage with Bettman and NHLPA government director Marty Walsh to debate the match.
“It means loads, clearly,” Matthews stated. “At any stage, to have the ability to symbolize your nation is an enormous honor. … I feel it will be nice for the gamers and clearly nice for the game and the followers. I feel we’ll actually take pleasure in it.”
The 4 groups will every play three Spherical Robin video games, and the highest two groups on the finish of that can play in a one-game closing to find out the winner.
Beginning in 2028, the NHL desires to contain extra international locations in a real World Cup of Hockey each two years so followers nonetheless get to see best-on-best competitors in non-Olympic years.
