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Too many games had to be canceled in the North American NHL. According to several media reports, the league and the players’ union have reached an agreement that no players will be sent to Beijing.
The NHL has decided not to give their players clearance. Of course, this also applies to Canadian superstar Connor McDavid from the Edmonton Oilers.
AFP
Timo Meier (r.) From the San Jose Sharks, who is in excellent form, will not be able to play for Switzerland either.
Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
The omicron variant is also rampant in North America.
The NHL has therefore decided not to give their players the clearance for Beijing.
Nati coach Patrick Fischer also has to travel to the Olympic Games without NHL professionals.
Superstars who tested positive for Corona and other game cancellations put the major US leagues under increasing pressure. In both the NFL (American football), the NBA (basketball) and the NHL (ice hockey), more and more players and officials had to be quarantined and games were canceled.
The number of postponed NHL games this season is currently 50. Because so many matches had to be canceled, this has an impact on the Olympic break and the participation of the NHL stars in the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing: The league has on Tuesday according to media reports together with the players’ union decided that no NHL players will travel to Beijing.
As the Canadian newspaper “Toronto Star” reports, the NHL is now planning to contact the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and notify the IOC of the decision. According to EPSN, the official notification is expected within the next 24 hours. The Swiss Nino Niederreiter from the Carolina Hurricanes had already expected the NHL stars to cancel the Olympic Games, as he said in “Blick”.
Who is Nati coach Fischer nominating?
The cancellation of the NHL stars of course also has consequences for the Swiss national team. Coach Patrick Fischer has to do without players like Roman Josi, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier or Nino Niederreiter. So the national coach has to set up the team with those players who took part in the Germany Cup and the NaturEnergie Challenge in Visp. Some Swiss, who would not have survived the cut with the NHL stars in the team, come to kiss the hand – one is joy, the other is sorrow.
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(dpa / hua)