Olympic champion Pashkov: everything goes to the fact that the NHL will refuse to participate in the Olympics
Photo: Vladimir Trefilov / RIA Novosti
Olympic champion in the USSR national team Alexander Pashkov suggested that the National Hockey League (NHL) would refuse to release players to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. The athlete spoke in an interview with the Lenta.ru correspondent.
“By indirect evidence, everything is heading towards this. The number of cases of coronavirus is growing, they are postponing matches. In this situation, uncertainty is the most worrisome. The NHL is still pulling with the decision, it is unnerving, ”Pashkov said.
The goalkeeper also talked about how the possible absence of players from the NHL will affect the tournament prospects of the Russian national team. “I agree with the opinion of Western experts, who sent our team to the fourth place in case of participation of NHL representatives in the tournament. If this does not happen, ours will at least qualify for prizes. With a successful combination of circumstances, you can fight for victory. The Channel One Cup showed that we have a decent team that can still be strengthened by the players playing in Russia, ”Pashkov added.
On December 20, Match TV announced that the NHL had decided to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics. The reason was the increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in the league.
