Olympic Hockey Welcomes NHL Stars After 12-Year Hiatus

For the first time in over a decade, Olympic hockey is set to showcase top talent from the National Hockey League. The NHL allowed its players to participate in the Winter Olympics starting in 1998, but withdrew its athletes after the 2014 Games.

Prior to that, U.S. teams mainly fielded college and amateur players, who were up against seasoned professionals from other nations. This dynamic is precisely what fueled the legendary “Miracle on Ice” – a moment that, I think we can all agree, was spectacular, aided in part by Al Michaels’ unforgettable commentary.

The league’s ban on active players continued through 2018 and 2022. However, they’re making a comeback just in time for the upcoming tournament.

Jim Craig, the goalie for the U.S. team during the 1980 Olympics, supports the inclusion of professional players. “It makes sense for the best athletes in the world to compete against one another,” he said in a recent conversation, “as long as the playing field is fair.” He emphasized that each player should come into this year’s competition with a sense of responsibility toward their own brands, mirroring the mindset of his own team from years past.

Craig noted, “I just hope they exhibit the same determination we had. It’s not about personal branding or contracts; it’s about representing our country.” He expressed pride in his teammates, crediting their shared goal of national representation over personal gain.

The four-nation tournament, in his eyes, demonstrated this perfectly. “You can say whatever you want about political correctness,” he joked, “but look at how unpolitically correct those teams were.” The desire to win was palpable; both Canada and the U.S. were driven to bring their best to the ice. He remarked on Canada’s approach to team selection, noting it’s not just about having the highest-scoring players—it’s about finding the right mix to win.

As we approach the men’s hockey games on February 12th, with the gold medal match set for ten days later, it’s hard to ignore the lingering shadow of the U.S. team’s historic victory over the Soviet Union 46 years ago. The stakes are high, and the excitement is building.