With the 2024 Olympics continuing from Paris, the time still feels right for reminiscing on the NHL’s history with the Olympic Games. I think there is a legitimate case against the idea of NHL players participating. While the contrary is by now widespread in sports like basketball, tennis, or golf, I can see the argument that the only sports at the Olympics should be sports where the Olympics represent the unquestioned pinnacle of that sport.
However, by and large, the excitement associated with NHL players at the games has drawn universal acclaim. An Olympic stage attracts otherwise disinterested viewers to hockey, and it offers the chance for the league’s stars to combine forces and do battle for a trophy that may not be as hard to win as a Stanley Cup, but is rendered more elusive by the four-year Olympiad (and of course, even more so by the NHL’s refusal to participate in the Games since Sochi 2014).
As we now know Nagano 1998 did not usher in an age of continued NHL participating in the games, but as today’s entry from the THN Archive reminds us, back in 1999, it wasn’t even assured the NHL would participate in the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. However, it also reminds us that fan support for NHL Olympic participating hasn’t wavered, and fortunately for hockey fans, NHL players will return to the Games for Milan 2026:
“Fans Want NHLers at the Olympics” by Jason Kay, March 19, 1999 / Vol. 52, Issue 27
The ayes have it, even if the IOC doesn’t.
Despite the International Olympic Committee corruption scandal and the mixed reviews to which the hockey event at the 1998 Nagano Games played, readers of THN largely support NHL participation at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.
THN asked readers whether the league should again interrupt a season and send players to the Olympics. The ’Yes’ vote (67.5 per cent) outpolled the ’No’ (32.5 per cent) vote by a 2-1 margin.
Many of those who favor an Olympic sequel say the event would lose luster if the game’s greatest stars don’t participate.
“The Olympics are supposed to showcase the best athletes,” writes Chris Schultz of Green Bay, Wise., “and I think the best talent in the world should be there, regardless of what happened in the 1998 Games.”
“Each sport brings the best,” writes Fernand Welschbillig of Mersch, Luxembourg. “Why should hockey be the exception?”
Among those who cast ’No’ ballots, some felt Nagano didn’t Eve up to its hype. Others were turned off by Team USA’s room trashing. Others are appalled by the IOC bribery scandal. And there are many who believe the Olympics should be for amateurs.
“I don’t support NHL participation,” writes Dan Black of Regina, Sask., “especially for an American team after the disgrace they brought upon the NHL and the USA in the last Olympics.”
“Keep the Olympics for amateurs,” writes Thomas V. Papaccio of Cherry Hill, N.J. “Remember 1980? That was exciting.”
“My reason (for voting ’no’) has been in the news for the past few months,” writes Bob McConnell of Kamloops, B.C., in reference to IOC problems. “That says it all.”
For the record, the NHL is expected to halt its season in 2002 and send players to Salt Lake, but no official announcement has been made.
PUCK POLL
In light of the NHL’s experience at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and the recent corruption scandal involving members of the International Olympic Committee, do you support NHL participation, such as Czech Republic gold-medal goalie Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres, at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City?
Yes, I support participation 67.5%
No, I don’t support participation 32.5%
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