Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Playing 2010 Games hockey on NHL-size ice right thing to do, says Bettman
Playing the 2010 Winter Olympic hockey tournament on North American-sized ice makes sense, considering the contribution the NHL makes to the Games, says NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
"We think it will enhance the tournament and we're pleased," Bettman said in Edmonton while attending the NHL Stanley Cup final. "Considering we stop our season in the middle, and in Turin 160 of our players went, I think it is a sensible decision."
Last week the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (VANOC), announced the men's and women's hockey tournament will be played on the smaller, NHL-sized ice surface instead of the larger international ice. The move will save organizers of the Vancouver Games $10 million in construction costs since they won't have to make renovations to GM Place, home of the NHL Vancouver Canucks.
It also means more seats will be available for fans, which will produce more revenue.
The International Ice Hockey Federation agreed to the change after discussing the issue during the recent world hockey championships in Riga, Latvia.
Bettman said the NHL had raised the topic of ice size in the past with the IIHF.
"We had discussions about it," he said. "I always told the IIHF it was there decision to make."
Edmonton Oiler defenceman Chris Pronger, a three-time Olympian who won a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake Games, said playing on the smaller ice will give Canada and the U.S. an advantage.
"It's going to play more into our hands, Canadian and Americans who have played on that ice surface for their whole lives," said Pronger. "It's a little more tailor-made for our skill sets and how we like to play."
Many of the men's teams playing at the Olympics are stocked with NHL players. The IIHF said about 53 per cent of the men playing at the 2006 Turin Games played on North American-sized rinks during their regular season.
"If you look at the World Cup the last few years, the Russians always had a good chance to beat Canada on the small ice," said Pronger. "The last World Cup the Finns made the finals and the Czechs and these teams played extremely well.
"They all play on the NHL ice surface all year long. They've changed their games to adapt to those ice surfaces. I don't think it will be as big a deal as it might have been in the early 1980's or 1970's."
Martin Gerber, the Carolina Hurricane goaltender who blanked Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, and defenceman Frantisek Kaberle, who played for the Czechs in Turin, both doubted the switch would impact the tournament.
One player who disagrees is Michael Peca, the gritty Oiler forward who won a gold medal with Canada at the 2002 Olympics.
"I disagree with the breaking of the tradition," said Peca. "It's strange they would go away from that.
"Teams that carry a large handful of European players, it may be a little tougher on those guys. It will be interesting to see how the Canadian and American teams set their roster and how the European teams set their roster."
An NHL rink is 60 metres by 26 metres while international ice is 60 metres by 30 metres.
Pronger said it is an adjustment playing on the bigger surface.
"It is a change in the amount of skating you do, in reads and lanes and things of that nature," he said. "When you don't have a lot of time to practise and get adjusted to it, it's difficult to make that quick change."
Bettman said the Vancouver Canucks will benefit because their home arena won't be under construction.
"This will mean they won't be out of their building for so long," he said. "For the team, it is a very positive effect."
"We think it will enhance the tournament and we're pleased," Bettman said in Edmonton while attending the NHL Stanley Cup final. "Considering we stop our season in the middle, and in Turin 160 of our players went, I think it is a sensible decision."
Last week the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (VANOC), announced the men's and women's hockey tournament will be played on the smaller, NHL-sized ice surface instead of the larger international ice. The move will save organizers of the Vancouver Games $10 million in construction costs since they won't have to make renovations to GM Place, home of the NHL Vancouver Canucks.
It also means more seats will be available for fans, which will produce more revenue.
The International Ice Hockey Federation agreed to the change after discussing the issue during the recent world hockey championships in Riga, Latvia.
Bettman said the NHL had raised the topic of ice size in the past with the IIHF.
"We had discussions about it," he said. "I always told the IIHF it was there decision to make."
Edmonton Oiler defenceman Chris Pronger, a three-time Olympian who won a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake Games, said playing on the smaller ice will give Canada and the U.S. an advantage.
"It's going to play more into our hands, Canadian and Americans who have played on that ice surface for their whole lives," said Pronger. "It's a little more tailor-made for our skill sets and how we like to play."
Many of the men's teams playing at the Olympics are stocked with NHL players. The IIHF said about 53 per cent of the men playing at the 2006 Turin Games played on North American-sized rinks during their regular season.
"If you look at the World Cup the last few years, the Russians always had a good chance to beat Canada on the small ice," said Pronger. "The last World Cup the Finns made the finals and the Czechs and these teams played extremely well.
"They all play on the NHL ice surface all year long. They've changed their games to adapt to those ice surfaces. I don't think it will be as big a deal as it might have been in the early 1980's or 1970's."
Martin Gerber, the Carolina Hurricane goaltender who blanked Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, and defenceman Frantisek Kaberle, who played for the Czechs in Turin, both doubted the switch would impact the tournament.
One player who disagrees is Michael Peca, the gritty Oiler forward who won a gold medal with Canada at the 2002 Olympics.
"I disagree with the breaking of the tradition," said Peca. "It's strange they would go away from that.
"Teams that carry a large handful of European players, it may be a little tougher on those guys. It will be interesting to see how the Canadian and American teams set their roster and how the European teams set their roster."
An NHL rink is 60 metres by 26 metres while international ice is 60 metres by 30 metres.
Pronger said it is an adjustment playing on the bigger surface.
"It is a change in the amount of skating you do, in reads and lanes and things of that nature," he said. "When you don't have a lot of time to practise and get adjusted to it, it's difficult to make that quick change."
Bettman said the Vancouver Canucks will benefit because their home arena won't be under construction.
"This will mean they won't be out of their building for so long," he said. "For the team, it is a very positive effect."
# posted by Michelle @ 12:33 PM 
