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Done deal: NHL to participate in 2014 Winter Olympics

Sochi-2014-Winter-Olympics-logo

After a lengthy negotiation, the NHL, NHLPA, IIOC and IIHF have reached an agreement for NHL participation in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

“The National Hockey League features the most international player population in professional sports, and our outstanding athletes take tremendous pride in representing their homelands on the global stage,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The decision to participate in the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi was in many ways a difficult one, but one that we know will be well received by our Players and, most importantly, by the vast majority of our fans and sports fans everywhere.”

Highlights of the agreement include a 16-day Olympic break (from Feb. 9-26) in the NHL schedule. The league will also be represented by seven referees and six linesmen working in Sochi, while the games will be played on international-sized rinks (60 x 30 meters).

This will mark the fifth consecutive winter games the NHL has participated in. Involvement dates back to the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, the first in which professional players were allowed to take part.

“The players are very pleased that an agreement has been reached that will allow the world’s best hockey players to compete at the Winter Games in February,” said Don Fehr, NHLPA Executive Director. “Having the opportunity to wear their nation’s sweater in Sochi is something the players look forward to.”

Here are the three groups for the Winter Olympics, and the schedule:

Group AGroup BGroup C
RussiaAustriaCzech Republic
SloveniaCanadaLatvia
SlovakiaFinlandSwitzerland
United StatesNorwaySweden
Men’s Preliminary Round Schedule
WED, FEB 12
112:00 PM ETCzech Republic vs. Sweden
212:00 PM ETLatvia vs. Switzerland
THU, FEB 13
33:00 AM ETFinland vs. Austria
47:30 AM ETRussia vs. Slovenia
57:30 AM ETSlovakia vs. United States
612:00 PM ETCanada vs. Norway
FRI, FEB 14
73:00 AM ETCzech Republic vs. Latvia
87:30 AM ETSweden vs. Switzerland
912:00 PM ETCanada vs. Austria
1012:00 PM ETNorway vs. Finland
SAT, FEB 15
113:00 AM ETSlovakia vs. Slovenia
127:30 AM ETUnited States vs. Russia
1312:00 PM ETSwitzerland vs. Czech Republic
1412:00 PM ETSweden vs. Latvia
SUN, FEB 16
153:00 AM ETAustria vs. Norway
167:30 AM ETRussia vs. Slovakia
177:30 AM ETSlovenia vs. United States
1812:00 PM ETFinland vs. Canada
Qualification play-off - TUE, FEB 18
193:00 AM ETTBD
207:30 AM ETTBD
2112:00 PM ETTBD
2212:00 PM ETTBD
Quarterfinals - WED, FEB 19
233:00 AM ETTBD
247:30 AM ETTBD
2512:00 PM ETTBD
2612:00 PM ETTBD
Semifinals - FRI, FEB 21
277:00 AM ETTBD
2812:00 PM ETTBD
Bronze Medal Game - SAT, FEB 22
2910:00 AM ETTBD
Gold Medal Game - SUN, FEB 23
307:00 AM ETTBD

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