Fasel on 2018 Olympic Hockey: 'Puck is on the Stick of the NHL'

8th Asian Winter Games Coverage Proudly Sponsored by the Olympic Council of Asia

(ATR) Ice hockey Federation president René Fasel tells Around the Rings that if the National Hockey League does not skate in PyeongChang 2018 it will be a "big mistake" and people will be "disappointed."

He said NHL legend Wayne Gretzky agrees with him. Fasel says the Great One spoke with him during the NHL All-Star weekend in Los Angeles recently. According to Fasel, Gretzky supports the IIHF's effort to get the NHL players to Korea next February. Gretzky played for Canada at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Fasel spoke with ATRbetween periods at a hockey game between China and Japan at this week’s 8th Asian Winter Games in Sapporo.

The IIHF chief met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, IOC president Thomas Bach and NHL Players Association executive directory Donald Fehr on Feb. 3 at the NHL offices in New York. Bach said it was only a "courtesy visit".

"Now the puck is on the stick of the NHLPA and the NHL," Fasel tells ATR. " We’ve done our homework – we could negotiate with the Korean organizers about tickets, accommodations and transportation. We could find the money to pay all that."

The IOC have stood firm about not paying out of pocket transportation and insurance costs for the elite league players to come to Korea, something that has been provided at every Olympics that the NHL has participated in since Nagano 1998. Fasel has worked diligently to find a means to cover the expenses, although some details remain unknown.

Fasel pointed out that PyeongChang 2018 sponsor Korean Air offers 12 direct flights daily from North America to Seoul.

"We’ve been discussing this with Korean Air and they can really help us with the NHL players coming to Korea." Fasel said. "Transportation shouldn’t be an issue."

The hockey boss admitted that quality hotel rooms in Gangneung – where games will be contested – are limited, but says that the majority of the players wish to stay in the Olympic Village with the other athletes.

Fasel displayed his excitement about the ongoing hockey tournaments at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, where an unprecedented 25 Asian countries are competing. He said there is untapped potential on the continent.

"The only place where the global brand can really grow in Asia," Fasel said. "Using this platform with the two Olympics in Korea and Beijing is a unique opportunity that the NHL should not miss.

"Our game is the fastest game on earth and the Asian people are really interested in it," said the Swiss IOC member, adding passionately "It’s the best game in the world.

"I consider Gary Bettman a very smart person with what he has done with the NHL in the last 20 years. I would not understand if he doesn’t go to PyeongChang and then it would be really difficult to come back for Beijing because people will be very disappointed."

There are 350 days to go until the PyeongChang 2018 Games open, but Fasel insists there is no steadfast deadline for the NHL to make its final decision.

"Over 90 percent of the fans and players want to go to the Olympics, now we’re just waiting on the final decision.

"I’m still 50/50 – I hope they do not make the mistake not to come," Fasel said.

Sapporo Hockey Tournament

Lacing up their skates at the Asian Winter Games are exotic hockey nations Qatar, Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Twenty-five countries, including six women's teams, are being divided into three divisions playing at three hockey venues.

"Having Asia on our map to grow the game and having two Games coming here – PyeongChang and Beijing – I think this is a very good step forward," Fasel said. "We used to have six or seven teams, so it shows there is space and potential to grow here in Asia."

In the men’s top division at the AWG, host Japan has played impressively defeating China 14-0 at Tsukisamu Gymnasium on Wednesday night. Kazakhstan defeated Korea 4-0. The Kazakhs are the defending AWG champions, having knocked off Japan on home ice in 2011.

Kazakhstan is the highest internationally ranked team competing in Sapporo, currently 16th in the world rankings. Since the AWG launched in 1986, Kazakhstan has won three hockey gold medals, while Japan and China each have two.

On the ladies side, Kazakhstan has captured gold at each of the last three AWG, while China took top honors the first two times women’s hockey was included in 1996 and 1999.

Probably the most striking result of the Games so far has been Japan’s ladies demolishing Hong Kong 46-0. Ouch!

Written and reported by Brian Pinelliin Sapporo

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