From: golchowy@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Gerald Olchowy)
Subject: Re: NHL in the Olympics
Organization: University of Toronto Chemistry Department
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 21:33:18 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.124020.1@abo.fi> mlindroos@abo.fi writes:
>Gerald, Gerald . . . Can't you see that international hockey is one of the
>EXTREMELY few advantages the NHL has over other sports? There is the European
>Economic Community - by the year 2000 we will have a common market of about 370
>million people spread across 18 countries. That's over 40% more than the US and
>Canada combined, most of these people have as much money to spend on sports
>as the North Americans. Imagine how much stronger hockey would be if it had a
>significant presence in countries like France (53M), the UK(57), Italy(55M)...
>It already is very strong in smaller countries - Finland & Sweden (13M),
>Switzerland (6M) and not doing too badly in Germany(80M) either. By and large,
>the additional players demanded by adding the Sharks, Senators and Lightning 
>come from Russia and Czechoslovakia. If the NHL is smart, they can get as many
>players, extra TV money as they like - *IF* they manage to make the sport more
>popular in Central Europe. That's why the NBA and NFL are so anxious to play
>exhibition games or even set up new (minor-) leagues over here. Europe is the
>future. That is also why the NHL -at all costs- should try to co-operate with
>the IIHF and the European federations. Having an "open" Olympic hockey
>tournament is one step in that direction.

Soccer football doesn't think that way...I agree that there is a big
future for hockey in Europe, but the way to go is with a World Cup of
hockey where the IIHF and the NHL benefit, and not the Olympics, where
the IOC is the main beneficiary.  FIFA doesn't allow the best soccer
players into the Olympics for good reason...it would diminish the
World Cup of Soccer Football, and the revenue and prestige that comes
from it.          

>As I have said before, the Olympics would a) put NHL players back on 
>American television for two weeks b) help to settle the differences with the
>Russian, Czech and Swedish federations - all mad at the NHL because of transfer
>wrangles c) give the league and its players some much-needed publicity. 
>That's why the NHL should -and will- send its players to the Olympics.  
>

There will be less money available for the Russian, Czech, and Swedish
federations if the best professionals go to the Olympics...because the
IOC gets most of the money from the Olympics...not the IIHF or the NHL.

The IIHF and the NHL need to create a true World Cup of hockey to 
replace the two flawed events...the current World Championships and
the Canada Cup.  The Olympics as a 23 year old age group tournament
like soccer would be much more competitive between the hockey powers
and be a glamor event for creating and introducing new hockey 
superstars to the world.  You get twice the bang...a World Cup for
the greatest stars...the Olympics for the emerging stars.

>Correct, and it is encouraging to notice that more and more North Americans
>are learning about this great game. Sadly, a World Cup of Hockey might not
>work - if the Canada Cup is anything to go by. The game isn't popular enough 
>in the States and Central Europe to get the media attention we want. The
>solution is to hitch our buggy to the Olympic train and hope for the best. 

Gerald