IIHF would like NHL 2026 Olympics decision by spring 2024
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By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
The head of the International Ice Hockey Federation says he would like a decision on NHL participation in the 2026 Olympics in Italy by the spring of 2024. Federation President Luc Tardif told reporters at the world junior championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that would give the parties involved two years to prepare for the Games in Milan and Cortina. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly tells The Associated Press it’s likely a reasonable timeline to make that call. The league and players’ association have agreed to participate in 2026 after skipping the past two Olympics. NHL players were set to go in 2022 before pandemic-related schedule interruptions caused them to pull out.