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| 2014 Champions |
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16 years ago, a right was finally allowed to NHL players; the right to finally
participate in the winter Olympic Games. Ever since, the hockey games went from
amateur to professional. Nonetheless, this right is now being questioned. Like
in the previous winter Games, the NHL players' participation is a must. It has
and will continue to bring many advantages to the NHL association, to the
players, as well as to the fans. To withdraw the NHL players from the winter
Games would be nonsense.
To begin
with, it is thought that the games put the NHL in the dark for the duration of
the hockey tournament. On the contrary, it gives the NHL association publicity.
The NHL is questioning their players' participation in the games because they
complain about losing money. While the games are on, the NHL pauses it's
season. As a result they aren't doing profit. Of course the Olympics give an
estimated compensation to the NHL of 150 million dollars. You could think that
this amounts enormous, but to the teams it's nothing. Meanwhile, the NHL's
participation in the games could end up increasing their profit. As Rene Fasel,
president of the International Ice Hockey federation stated, the Olympics could
end up allowing the NHL to open new markets and to expand their brand,
especially in Asia. Clearly the NHL should stop complaining and take the
advantage of all this publicity, which could obviously bring more money in
their pockets. The players' participation should not be seen as a threat but a
chance to accomplish more. The NHL needs the Olympics to do more.
Secondly, it is
common among young kids to dream of becoming a professional hockey player. Many
work hard and achieve their goal. They go from little leagues to the big
leagues. As a player advances in the steps towards his dream he gets prouder
and prouder. However nothing compares to the pride a player has when
representing his country in the winter Olympic hockey tournament. The well
known hockey player Steven Stamkos said that nothing can compare to the pride
of winning for your country. Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capital's
captain threatened to run away and participate on his own in the games if ever
that right was taken away. This demonstrates how much players take pride in
representing their country. Honestly, can someone blame them? It's a dream of a
life time. This event happens every four years and fills the players with pride;
they need it for their own good.
Finally,
nothing can hold crazy partisans to their seats on the big final game. As the
tournament begins, every TV is on to the games while people cheer on like crazy,
for the hope of the gold. There's also the excitement of
finally seeing our favorite all-star players reunited in their country's team.
The excitement of seeing all those names: Crosby, Stamkos, Toews, Price, and
much more and thinking; they could win this. It's for a reason that plenty of
sports bars open their doors at 8am with their flat screens flickering. Every fan
wears their team in their hearts. When that final buzzer goes off, many fans
are left with deception except for those who cheered for the winning team. The
hockey tournament, filled with many favorite players puts peps in many people’s
days. It would not be the same if the tournament was to go back to an amateur
state of mind.
In conclusion, to
withdraw the NHL player' right to participate in the winter Olympics would be a
mistake. Not only does it bring publicity to the NHL association and huge pride
to the participants, but it also warms fans' hearts with excitation. Nearly 16
years ago a great right was given to great hockey players. It would be a shame
to shut it down. It has made wonders and will continue to do so.
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