Beijing 2022: NHL players disappointed at missing out on Winter Olympics as countries scramble to fill their rosters
- Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy says every player would have travelled to Beijing had the NHL not pulled out of the Games because of Covid-19 concerns
- Czech Republic international says it is the dream of every young European ice hockey player to represent their country at the Olympics
National Hockey League (NHL) players said they were disappointed at not having the chance to compete in the Beijing Olympic Games, as the governing bodies of various countries prepared the hectic work of filling out their Olympic rosters.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Wednesday that the league’s players would not compete in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Games because of Covid-19 concerns.
“I’ve dreamed of that for a long time, so it’s disappointing,” Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy said. “I honestly think it was unanimous that every single guy was going to go if given the opportunity.”
With NHL players representing 11 of the 12 nations competing in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Beijing Games, the global impact of the league’s pull-out is substantial, with Canada and the United States – who are the two most represented countries on NHL rosters – likely feeling the biggest impact.
The league ended a run of taking part in five Games when it elected not to go to Pyeongchang 2018 and the US filled its 23-man roster with 15 who competed professionally in Europe, three American Hockey League and four collegiate players.
