Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and the world's biggest ice hockey stars may not be heading off to Beijing 2022, but there is plenty for ice hockey fanatics or newcomers alike to get excited about.
The Winter Olympics always offers the chance for people to start getting excited about a sport they don't normally have interest in, and this is the perfect sport to do exactly that, as it's full of speed, physicality, skill and a warrior-type battle out on the ice.
Of course, much like any sport the best way to entice new fans is by showing off the top talents in a head-to-head contest, but unfortunately the world of sport is still suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Connor McDavid and his fellow NHL players will not be heading off to the Beijing Olympics
Sidney Crosby and the rest of the NHL were originally granted permission to play in Olympics
But Alex Ovechkin and the NHL have seen the season disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Therefore it is disappointing to be missing out on Crosby and McDavid, two generational superstars who would have been joining forces for the first time in an international competition, or even New York Rangers and USA defenceman Adam Fox sending pinpoint passes from the blue line to an onrushing Patrick Kane.
The NHL did, however, initially agree to allow players to travel to China for the Games, but since have withdrawn this permission due to the pandemic's disruption of its season and, like in football's Premier League, a rising number of postponed games.
'The National Hockey League respects and admires the desire of NHL players to represent their countries and participate in a "best on best" tournament,' NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
'Accordingly, we have waited as long as possible to make this decision while exploring every available option to enable our players to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.'
Owen Power, 19, the 2021 NHL first overall draft pick, will be in Team Canada at Beijing 2022
Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov was one of the stars of the 2018 Olympics for ROC
But there are plenty of reasons to be excited, as there will be a whole host of unique talent on display, including bright young prospects who have already been drafted into the NHL as well as players from across the world's other major leagues.
Owen Power, still just 19 years old – drafted first overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by Buffalo Sabres – is already a world champion with Team Canada and will be one of the stars of Beijing 2022.
Players like Power and USA's Matthew Beniers, who was drafted just behind in second by Seattle Kraken, will be hungry to showcase their ability to the world along with the many other college players named in both the north American rosters.
