The writing was on the wall for weeks, but the NHL made it official early Wednesday morning when it was announced the league and the NHL Players Association agreed to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing.
As disappointed as some players may be, it really is the safest decision for everyone.
NHL announces that there will not be an Olympic break, NHL Players will not be able to participate in 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 22, 2021
Full release: https://t.co/GkHDkNgZSo pic.twitter.com/ysBmWctzjw
The NHL has been reeling for weeks as the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has spread through multiple teams and caused upwards of 50 games to be postponed, causing a complete pause in play and practices in the week surrounding the Christmas break.
#NHL Covid-19 (as of Dec. 21, 1pm ET)
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 21, 2021
131 players reported in active protocol (18% of rosters)
⬆️ 12 players over 24 hrs, incl. 7 players cleared
24 teams w/ at least 1 player in protocol
50 games postponed (45 in last 8 days)
1 game scheduled until Dec. 27 (TBL/VGK in jeopardy)
It's truly an unfortunate turn of events given how hard the NHLPA fought for players to participate in the upcoming games after not being allowed to play in the last Winter Olympics because of a disconnect between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee.
But with the health and safety of the whole league being in jeopardy -- plus the quarantine time that would take place if a player tested positive in Beijing -- there is no doubt the NHL and NHLPA made the right call.
Now, as the league's release stated, the break in February previously set aside for the Olympics can be used to help reschedule at least some of the games that had to be postponed in December.
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