from Nick Butler of InsideTheGames,

A decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to pay transportation or insurance costs for National Hockey League (NHL) players to participate at Pyeongchang 2018 has left a "difficult financial situation", the head of the sport's world governing body has admitted.

The IOC have contributed to costs for all five Olympic Games NHL players have participated in ever since they first appeared at Nagano in 1998.

They have now changed their stance, however, meaning there is far more pressure on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the NHL to shoulder the financial burden.

“The IOC took the decision not to pay transportation and insurance costs for NHL and NHL players to come to the next Olympic Games," IIHF President René Fasel, who has led the body since 1994, told insidethegames during the SportAccord Convention.

"We had a meeting with the NHL last week and the prognosis is not really good.

continued