No Clear Signs for NHL at Sochi Olympics

(ATR) Vancouver 2010 was a "mixed bag" for the National Hockey League, according to commissioner Gary Bettman at last week’s Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit in Toronto.

Bettman remained non-committal for Sochi 2014, indicating talks for a new collective bargaining agreement in 2012 may decide whether the league pauses mid-season to allow professionals tp play in the next Winter Olympics.

"We are not under any time pressure to make a decision," Bettman said Aug. 25.

"The IOC hasn’t even assigned their broadcasting rights for Sochi. For instance, I have been told that broadcasters will make two bids, one based on NHL participation and another without. That will make for an interesting discussion with our Board of Governors," he said.

Vancouver 2010 attracted 114 million viewers worldwide to the Feb. 28 gold medal match when Canada beat the United States 3-2 in sudden-death overtime. The international viewership exceeded the National Football League’s Super Bowl and UEFA Champions League final, said IOC marketing and broadcast director Timo Lumme.

But the NHL did not get any revenue or commercial rights from the tournament and is skeptical about pausing the 2014 season to allow players to participate in Sochi.

"The NHL would like to have more of a role, and this I believe is a fair request," IIHF president Rene Fasel said.

"The Olympics will still happen if NHL doesn’t go." said Brian Burke, the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager who was g.m. for the U.S. team at Vancouver 2010.

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong said the NHL and IIHF need to find common ground or risk of alienating viewers and ticket buyers.

"If you don’t find a solution, fans will never forgive you," Furlong said.

Meanwhile, IIHF council member Murray Costello announced a proposed $2 million increase to funding women’s hockey programs worldwide.

The measure needs tobe passed by the IIHF’s semi-annual congress.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said women’s hockey may be dropped from future Olympics unless the gap narrows between perennial champion Canada and European nations.

Canadian captain Hayley Wickenheiser, who will retire after Sochi 2014, said more coaches are "the key to development" and that a professional league in North America and more games against boys teams will help.

"We also have to have all top nations planning for Sochi, so that th tournament is as good as it can be."

The four-day summit, which included sessions at the Hockey Hall of Fame, was the first such event to ponder the future of the game since 1999.

The 400 delegates and speakers included hockey executives, coaches and players from North America and Europe, including Kontinental Hockey League chairman Vyacheslav Fetisov and president Alexander Medvedev.

Written by Bob Mackin.