Hi Everyone! I haven't blogged in a few days, but I will give you some details on the World Hockey Summit as I can get them. Two of the most fascinating topics at the Summit were the participation of NHLers at the olympics and women's hockey. Commissioner Gary Bettman said the Olympics is a "mixed bag" for the league. Leafs GM Brian Burke said " None of the other four major leagues in North America shut their doors down for the benefit of an international competition,""They do it in the off-season. I've said this before: move it to the summer olympics. I'd vote for that." Interestingly enough, a two-year-old union poll said that 95% of players were willing to play in the olympics.
In terms of women's hockey, Hayley Wickenheiser said that countries like Russia need more rinks where women can play hockey. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says that the NHL has been in talks with Hockey Canada to help create a women's league. At the Vancouver Olympics, IOC president Jacques Rogge said that women's hockey needs to improve or it risks being pulled from the olympics.
Haley, it will be interesting to see what happens with the idea of a women's hockey league. It would be a fantastic way to bring over some of the European women and develop them.
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