St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak will represent Slovakia in the upcoming Olympics. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
St. Louis Blues players David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk may not represent Team USA and the other seven players representing their home countries may not go to the Sochi Olympics.
As security concerns mount leading up to the Winter Olympic Games, the NHL says it would reconsider sending its players next month if something “significant” happens before Feb. 9. Russia is mounting the biggest security operation ever for an Olympic games. Russian security officials have been hunting for three potential female suicide bombers, one of whom is believed to be in Sochi.
In a email to the press, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote, “As of now, we do not doubt that all necessary steps are being taken by the Sochi Organizing Committee, the Russian government and the IOC to ensure the safety of the athletes and guests in Sochi. Obviously, if something significant were to transpire between now and February 9 that causes us to question that conclusion, we will re-evaluate. I don’t expect that that will become necessary.”
