The End of an Era by William Gault

Will winter's greatest sport take a break from the international level or will it take its talents to Asia? Talk has been going on on whether hockey should go to South Korea for the Olympics. Some think it's a good idea while others think it would be the dumbest idea hockey has ever made. NHL players should not participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics because they are at risk of injury, they won't be promoting hockey in Asia and the NHL is losing money due to the Olympics.

While playing hockey, you are always at risk of injury. Yet you're team will take this fact and accept it. But while you're playing and representing your country at the international level, not all people may accept this fact. On February 19, 2014 during the second period of the men's quarter-final ice hockey, Islanders captain John Tavares took a hit from Latvian defensemen Arturs Kulda into the boards, with his knee being the first point of contact. What happened next was sad news for Islanders fans as he sustained a torn MCL and torn meniscus in his knee and would miss the remainder of the NHL season. People were saddened by the news but what people were more concerned about was will NHL teams still send players when they are at that risk? Islanders GM Garth Snow was asked about the situation and responded with "They want all the benefits from NHL players in Olympics and don't want to pay when our best player gets hurt". If this risk continues to get worst, we might see the end of NHL players in the Olympics in which I hope never happens but anything can happen with the good ol' hockey game.

The average temperature during February in South Korea is 0.4 Celsius. Its not your typical weather for a Winter Olympics which arouses the question, will it promote ice hockey in Asia. According to Wikipedia, there is an Asia Ice Hockey League (ALH) which consists of seven teams from Japan, China and South Korea. This league has been operating since 2003 and has seen a high of nine teams since it began. This isn't the best place to represent hockey so why should the worlds most elite hockey players go? People say that it'll help "promote" ice hockey in Asia. But lets look at the big picture here, it could take years before hockey in Asia starts to grow and it would take even longer before the NHL started to accept players from these countries. Sending NHL players to South Korea would be waste of time for players and would see the lowest number of television watchers.

Zero. The worst number the NHL sees, espicially in the profit section. The NHL makes nothing from the Olympics, no money, nothing. So why continue sending your players even if you don't make money? Just because they're representing their country? The solution to this problem for the NHL is the World Cup of Hockey. The WCH has been seen twice, once in 1998 and finally in 2004. This event is the ultimate solution for the NHL. First of all, the NHL makes profit from it because they're the ones who run it whereas the Olympics are run by the IOC. Second of all, the WHC runs during the offseason without causing conflicts in schedules whereas the Olympics run through the NHL season causing the NHL to stop its season for two weeks just for the Olympics. The WHC would solve all of the NHL problems by giving them profit from their tournament and wouldn't lose them money by stopping their schedule for two weeks.

In conclusion, the NHL should not go the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea because players are at risk of injury, they won't be promoting hockey in Asia and the NHL is losing money due to the Olympics. With already many injuries occurring already and money being lost from teams who don't get enough fans for games, the sending of players to South Korea would be a lost to the NHL instead of a gain, so will the NHL continue it's era of Olympic hockey or end it all at home?

NHL players at 2018 Olympics would be gold! BY: William David- Tremblay

Everybody loves the Olympics. Most people love the winter games because of the #1 Canadian sport, which is hockey. Mostly because of all the great NHL players that have competed in the Olympics. Since the 1998 games NHL players have competed in the winter olympic, since then hockey is the sport that Canada has shinned in for a long time. During the past Winter Olympics their were quit a few injuries because of the Gary Bettman doesn't want NHL players to compete in the next winter games. NHL players should compete in futur Winter Olympics because: Canada dominates in this sport, it's every players childhood dream to represent their country, and they have a chance to play against the world's best players. 

     Firstly, Hockey is a sport that Canada has dominated for a long time. The reason that Canada has been so successful in hockey is because of all the great NHL players that have competed like: Wayne Gretzky. Also, Canada has/had really great goalies like: Carey price, Roberto louongo and Martin border. These players have shown to the country and the world that they are the best in the world. With out these great players, Canada wouldn't of won all those medals and have earned the name "Hockey Country". If commissioner Gary Bettman forbids NHL players to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics Canada won't likely be able to live to the worlds expectations.

     Secondly, these players have mostly one dream and that dream would be to participate in the Olympics. But by taking away the privilege of going to the winter games these players would probably be very sad. Also, playing in the Olympics is a once and a life time experience. For example: Zedeno Chara had missed two NHL games to go carry his country's flag. This shows that the Olympics is very important to these players because they are able to represent their country. Most players dream is to win the Stanley cup finals. Although, that there are many Olympics and many Stanley cup finals you are never really sure what will happen the following year. So as you look at it, it is really a once and life time experience.

   Lastly, these players have the chance to play against teams that they were never played against in their past seasons. So, by competing in the 2018 Olympic Games new players could have the chance to play against players from all over the world. Although, by restricting NHL players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics, players representing their country won't get the chance to experience this. Also, people will be less interested to watch the games because it will only be "no name players" from the semi-pro teams. If players are restricted from competing in the Olympics it is because of all the injuries that great players have gotten. Then they are not able to fully recover in their regular teams. So if Gary Bettman would not allow NHL players to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics he would ruin their dreams of representing their country. 

    In conclusion, NHL players should be allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics because it's a sport that Canada has dominated for a long time, it's every players dreams to represent their country and they get the chance to compete against the worlds best. If you would of been in Gary bettmans place would you of taken under consideration the feelings the players have for the Olympics?