Comments on: The NHL Versus the Olympics http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/02/24/the-nhl-versus-the-olympics/ Tampa Bay Lightning Weblog Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:26:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Georgeann http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/02/24/the-nhl-versus-the-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-3075 Georgeann Tue, 28 Feb 2006 05:23:41 +0000 http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/02/24/the-nhl-versus-the-olympics/#comment-3075 The presence of USA Professional Hockey players at the Olympics was a direct result of the Soviet Union team roster. At that time, the Soviets were indirectly paying players by having them enlist in the Army without having to perform any duties other than training for the hockey team. In everyone's eyes they became a professional team. We were sending college kids to play against veteran players (1980). We knew that another "miracle" would not happen again. At that same time the Olympic committee changed it's ruling that participants could be professional athletes as well as amatures, so we started lining up NHL players to go to the Olympics. That was our way of making the playing field even. However, after this Olympic disaster, maybe we need to rethink who we send. Think about the rosters of some of the successful countries. If we go back to using college kids, we are not sending the very best players our country has to offer. Using only Veteran players will not get us a medal. Using only unexperienced players (those without international experience) will not get us a medal. But, maybe a combination will work. If we send a mixture of different levels of professional players and college kids and give them time to jell as a team, then maybe we will be successful. You need to remember, other countries will not stop sending professional players. Just because the USA or the NHL might not want to send NHL players because of interruption in play, don't think for one instant that other countries will feel the same when a medal is on the line. And what about the NHL players who went to the Olympics and did well. Should we tell them - "no, you can't compete for your country because you may get hurt, you sold yourself to the NHL when you signed your contract. Sorry, you have to tell your country to find someone else." Players may be paid to take part in the NHL (everyone knows what the almighty dollar can do) but when it comes to national pride - that is something else all together. The presence of USA Professional Hockey players at the Olympics was a direct result of the Soviet Union team roster. At that time, the Soviets were indirectly paying players by having them enlist in the Army without having to perform any duties other than training for the hockey team. In everyone’s eyes they became a professional team. We were sending college kids to play against veteran players (1980). We knew that another “miracle” would not happen again. At that same time the Olympic committee changed it’s ruling that participants could be professional athletes as well as amatures, so we started lining up NHL players to go to the Olympics. That was our way of making the playing field even.

However, after this Olympic disaster, maybe we need to rethink who we send. Think about the rosters of some of the successful countries. If we go back to using college kids, we are not sending the very best players our country has to offer. Using only Veteran players will not get us a medal. Using only unexperienced players (those without international experience) will not get us a medal. But, maybe a combination will work. If we send a mixture of different levels of professional players and college kids and give them time to jell as a team, then maybe we will be successful.

You need to remember, other countries will not stop sending professional players. Just because the USA or the NHL might not want to send NHL players because of interruption in play, don’t think for one instant that other countries will feel the same when a medal is on the line. And what about the NHL players who went to the Olympics and did well. Should we tell them – “no, you can’t compete for your country because you may get hurt, you sold yourself to the NHL when you signed your contract. Sorry, you have to tell your country to find someone else.” Players may be paid to take part in the NHL (everyone knows what the almighty dollar can do) but when it comes to national pride – that is something else all together.

]]>