It is trying increasingly more seemingly that NHL gamers will not head to China for the 2022 Beijing Olympics after COVID-19 made its method by means of a number of organizations, together with Bruce Cassidy’s Boston Bruins.
It was seemingly gamers similar to Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand would characterize Crew Canada in China, whereas David Pastrnak already was named to Crew Czech Republic. Cassidy was named as an assistant coach for Canada for the primary time to characterize his residence nation, however he is aware of the choice is out of his management.
“I do know there’s some dialogue whether or not the gamers are going or not and clearly, as I mentioned earlier than, to characterize your nation is an honor with the most effective gamers on this planet. You are enjoying towards the most effective gamers on this planet, you are round the most effective athletes on this planet the entire entirety of it, for me, recollections you’d always remember,” Cassidy mentioned over Zoom on Tuesday. “However I do not know if they’ll go or not. Like I mentioned, there was discussions about staying again. I do not know the place that is at. … However we’re planning on persevering with to arrange till we’re informed in another way.”
Experiences surfaced Tuesday that the NHL and its gamers’ affiliation got here to a choice to not ship gamers abroad.
“Sure, I’ve heard the rumblings. I would be very disenchanted. I’ve by no means been, as most individuals have not,” Cassidy mentioned. “I used to be actually trying ahead to it. … Till we hear from the NHL and Doug Armstrong, in our case, who’s the overall supervisor for Crew Canada, we’ll hope they discover a solution to get it achieved. If not, then hopefully down the highway there might be one other alternative.”
For older gamers like Bergeron, 2022 will be the final likelihood to play within the Olympics.
On the finish of the day, the Bruins are targeted on getting wholesome and (hopefully) returning to sport motion Dec. 27 towards the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Backyard.
