The United States Olympic Committee said that it "has discussed a Plan B" with USA Hockey should the NHL decide not to send players to the 2018 PyeongChang Games, according to Steve Keating of REUTERS. The NHL has participated in five consecutive Winter Games, but its participation in South Korea is "in doubt" after the IOC said that "it would no longer cover players' costs," which have been estimated at around $10M. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said, "We're still very hopeful the NHL players will be there. We know they (players) want to be there and we understand the challenges it creates for the league. We are certainly exploring all avenues that would allow that to happen" (REUTERS, 12/13). The AP's Larry Lage reported NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "has said a decision would need to be made by early January at the latest, giving the league time to create a schedule for next season with or without a two-plus week break for the Olympics." Int'l Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel is "trying to stay out of the fray, acknowledging the highly anticipated decision isn't up to him or the governing body he leads." Fasel said, "We will await the NHL and the NHLPA's decision and hope for a positive result" (AP, 12/14). SPORTSNET's Elliotte Friedman noted the "key thing to remember" is that there is "somewhere between four and six weeks" before the deadline for a decision. (SPORTSNET, 12/13).
TALKS TO RESUME: TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr are expected to meet "sometime next week to get the ball rolling again on where this stands." However, there are "no official meetings scheduled" ("Insider Trading," TSN, 12/13).
