The International Olympic Committee has decided that they will no longer cover the costs of NHL players transportation and insurance. Costs seen as being crucial for the participation of NHL player in the Olympics.
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) president Rene Fasel told insidethegames that it’s looking less and less likely that the next Winter Games will include NHL players.
“The IOC took the decision not to pay transportation and insurance costs for NHL and NHL players to come to the next Olympic Games,” said Fasel. “We had a meeting with the NHL last week and the prognosis is not really good.”
The NHL stops its regular season to send players to the Olympics every four years since 1998. For Sochi 2014, the league reached a deal with the IIHF and IOC in the summer prior to the Games, with the IOC contributing US 14 million and the IIHF 18 million towards the hefty transportation and insurance costs.
