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The NHL and NHLPA introduced Friday that they won’t stage the World Cup of Hockey in 2024 as initially focused.
“Sadly within the present atmosphere it’s not possible,” the NHL and gamers’ union mentioned in a joint assertion. “… We proceed to plan for the following World Cup of Hockey, hopefully in February 2025.”
The NHL and NHLPA had been assembly for the previous yr and methods they might take a break within the NHL schedule and host the World Cup of Hockey in February 2024, with sources saying they deliberate to carry video games in Europe and North America.
However the sides indicated they did not really feel like that they had sufficient logistics sorted out to host the event in 2024. Sources mentioned there are a number of key points that made the timeline unfeasible, together with the IIHF’s prime enterprise companions expressing trepidation over holding the event in the midst of the NHL season, whereas the league had but to safe broadcast rights for the event in North America.
One other situation was the potential participation of Russian gamers because the battle in Ukraine continues.
The IIHF has banned Russia from worldwide occasions, however the NHL and NHLPA had been hopeful they might discover a resolution — equivalent to having Russian athletes compete underneath a impartial identify or flag. Nevertheless, some taking part international locations have mentioned that was not passable and advocated that no Russian gamers take part in any respect.
The cancellation is a large blow for gamers who’ve been asking for a best-on-best worldwide event over the previous a number of years. NHL gamers didn’t take part previously two Olympic Video games. The final time the World Cup of Hockey was held was in 2016.
The IIHF World Championships are held each spring however do not get full participation because it overlaps with the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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