Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – With the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 playing havoc on the NHL, the league and its Players' Association have agreed not to play in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The announcement from the NHL came Wednesday morning.
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr issued this statement:
“Since the CBA extension was reached 17 months ago, NHL players have looked forward with great anticipation to once again participating in the Winter Olympics. Until very recently, we seemed to be on a clear path to go to Beijing. COVID-19 has unfortunately intervened, forcing dozens of games to be postponed this month alone. No matter how much we wish it were not the case, we need to utilize the Olympic period to reschedule these games.
“Certainly, the players and hockey fans are quite disappointed. But playing a full 82-game season this year, something the pandemic has prevented us from doing since the 2018-19 season, is very important. We expect that NHL players will return to the Olympics in 2026.”
With so many games postponed before the Christmas break, the NHL will use that time in February to make up games on the schedule.
