If the National Hockey League (NHL) is involved in a lockout because of a labour dispute its players won’t be able to compete at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
That’s what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel.
Fasel said at a news conference Sunday, “it is important for our national federations to know whether they are playing or not, especially for the U.S. and Canada”.
The NHL’s participation at the Games must be included in the next collective bargaining agreement. The current deal expires September 15 and a lengthy lockout is expected by most observers.
Fasel said if the NHL plays a reduced season next year Bettman would not want the NHL to take a 16-day break in February 2006 for his players to go to Italy.
Without the NHL the Olympic tournament would be played with European-based professionals and young players from North America representing their countries.
But Fasel said regardless of what happens he was convinced NHL players would be at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver Canada.
