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Hockey Canada has no backup plan if NHL pulls out of Sochi

Hockey Canada

If the NHL pulls its players out of the 2014 Winter Olympics because of security concerns, Hockey Canada will be left scrambling.

Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said there is no “Plan B” if violence causes the NHL to keep the players in North America as Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press shares.

“Our contingency plan would be everyone around this room today,” he said while speaking to reporters at Rogers Arena. “We have none.”

Not having a backup plan for how to handle Olympic hockey can be excused here since, if there are problems that would force athletes to stay away, there would be much larger concerns to deal with. Winning gold in hockey (or any sport) doesn’t compare to maintaining safety.

The possibility of violence causing a disruption of the games in Sochi, Russia is a hot topic of late. The NHL reportedly has a “contingency plan” if things take a turn for the worse and some players are having their families stay away from Russia to keep them safe.

The Olympic hockey tournament begins February 12.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT