from Marc-Edouard Vlasic at CBC Sports,

This POV was originally written for Radio-Canada and has been translated to English.

I was there sitting in front of my TV. It’s a nice TV, but I just had this urge to break it in two.

What I was seeing was completely ridiculous. It was April 3, and the commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman, announced that NHL players would not participate at the next Winter Olympic Games, taking place in less than a year in South Korea. And that the case was closed. At first, I told myself they had missed April Fools by two days.

The elimination rounds of the NHL playoffs were about to start. In terms of timing, it was perfect for the league. People were going to chat a bit, then the series would start and all the Olympic stories would quickly be forgotten.

I can’t say that I am disappointed. When you are disappointed you can move on. When you’re in a relationship and that person leaves you, it’s disappointing and you are frustrated. But even if it’s difficult, you turn the page. No, saying that I am disappointed is not strong enough, because this is unacceptable. Players in the NHL should participate in the Olympic Games for two good and simple reasons: First, the Olympic Games must have the best players in the world facing off.

Second, it is the ideal occasion to promote our sport all over the world. If NHL players don’t end up going to Pyeongchang, I will spend the rest of my career (I have always wanted to play until I am 40, so the next 10 years) feeling frustration and hatred towards the NHL.

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