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During the
2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turino, Italy,
news broke that the NHL and NHLPA had no
plans whatsoever to host a World Cup of
Hockey in 2008.
''Frankly,
I'm doubtful (holding a World Cup) is
something we'll do,'' Ted Saskin, the
executive director of the NHL Players'
Association, said in an Olympic press
conference with NHL deputy commissioner Bill
Daly and IIHF president Rene Fasel.
The World
Cup, formerly the Canada Cup, was created to
allow a true world championship where all
the best players in the world are eligible
to play. The need for the tournament became
lessened once NHL players were cleared to
play in the Olympic Games.
''Our sense
is that every two years is frankly too much
to be organizing these kinds of events in
terms of the demands on the players,''
Saskin said.
The NHL, on
the other hand, would be interested in
reviving the tournament.
''Speaking
for the clubs and the NHL, we would like to
have another World Cup of Hockey tournament,
we would like to make it a more regular
event,'' said Daly. ''But obviously we need
the players' participation and agreement on
that point. So that's something we'll
discuss as times goes on.''
At this stage
it looks like the always on-again/off-again
World Cup of Hockey is off. Again.
However
speculation is that the NHL is unhappy with
its' Olympic participation and that the NHL
will pull out after the 2010 Games in
Vancouver.
If that is
the case, the World Cup of Hockey could make
its return in 2012 or 2014.
Many believe
that the World Cup of Hockey provides the
best hockey tournament in the world.
"The
Olympics are the ultimate stage, and are a
bigger deal in Europe and around the globe.
There is no competing with that," says
World Cup of Hockey co-author Joe Pelletier.
"But the
Olympics also face great limitations that
hinder the actual hockey. The World Cup over
comes many of these. A proper training camp
allows teams to properly prepare and gel.
The schedule isn't unreasonably condensed.
Players are rested and the NHL season is not
interrupted. These things make a huge
difference in the quality of the product we
as fans watch and buy."
Pelletier
adds changes to the World Cup would need to
be made, too.
"Most
importantly, a commitment to this tournament
would have to be made. Hold it every 4
years, not whenever you feel like it.
Tournament history and lore need to be
established outside of Canada, and the on
again, off again nature of this tournament
needs to stop.
"Also,
we need to alternate hosts. Every year a
different country should host. Or if that's
not possible then alternate between Europe
and North America. And we need to let more
than 8 countries in."
Pelletier
would like to see the tournament held later
in September, coinciding with NHL training
camps, but recognizes European leagues are
already active at that point.
What is the
likelihood of these changes?
"I think
the World Cup of Hockey will be back. But
these changes are unlikely. In the new world
NHL, the NHL and NHLPA are business
partners. The World Cup is a profitable
enterprise, whereas the Olympics bring in no
direct revenue. However is the World Cup
profitable outside Canada? Can Europe
attract the gate receipts with their smaller
arenas? Can Europe attract TV dollars with
the time zone problems? Will allowing other
countries participate drive up costs? The
NHL and NHLPA will bring back the World Cup
as long as it is a money maker. Under the
old format it already is. Under my proposed
changes, it might not be."
Also See:
ESPN.com-
NHLPA not interested in continuing World Cup
The World Cup
of Hockey, the neglected offspring of the
old Canada Cup tournament, is in danger of
going the way of the wooden hockey stick,
leaving the Olympics as the premier
best-on-best tournament in the sport.
The NHL Players' Association implied Friday
that having the World Cup of Hockey,
alternating with the Olympics every two
years, is simply too much to ask of players,
and they aren't interested -- at least for
2008. Full Story
TSN.ca
- No more World Cup of Hockey?
The world's
best hockey players may not compete again
until the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver after
it was revealed Friday that there are no
current plans to hold a World Cup of Hockey
in 2008.
Full Story
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