NHL Players Made Available for 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

National Hockey League (NHL) player will be particpating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics after the NHL’s Players’ Association (NHLPA), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reached an agreement.

NHL players will be available to the 12 participating IIHF Member National Associations for the men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament from February 12-23. This will mark the fifth consecutive time dating back to Nagano 1998 that NHL players have participated in the Olympics. More than 120 NHL players are expected to compete for their respective nations in Sochi.

“The National Hockey League features the most international player population in professional sports, and our outstanding athletes take tremendous pride in representing their homelands on the global stage,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “The decision to participate in the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi was in many ways a difficult one, but one that we know will be well received by our Players and, most importantly, by the vast majority of our fans and sports fans everywhere.”

“The Players are very pleased that an agreement has been reached that will allow the world’s best hockey players to compete at the Winter Games in February,” said Don Fehr, NHLPA Executive Director. “Having the opportunity to wear their nation’s sweater in Sochi is something the players look forward to.”

The NHL will break from the 2013-14 regular season schedule on February 9 and return to play February 26 to allow for participation in the Games.

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