NHL stars return to boost US, Canada ice hockey teams at Milano-Cortina Games

NEW YORK, Jan ‌2 : The return of ice hockey's biggest stars to the Winter Games could spark a renaissance for the sport on the global stage, as gold-medal favourites United States and Canada handpicked top NHL talent for the Milano-Cortina Olympics.

The National Hockey League has not permitted its athletes to participate in the Games since 2014, putting a damper on the men's Olympic ice hockey tournament as the world's best players were forced to stay home in 2018 and 2022.

This year, however, celebrity sheen and extraordinary talent return to the Olympic ice hockey tournament as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes will lead the 25-man U.S. team, while Canada's squad includes ‌Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.

"NHL players bring a level of star power that elevates ‌everything. It's not just hockey - it's hockey with the best players in the world," said Molly Solomon, executive producer & president, for NBC's Olympics and Paralympics Production. 

North American players make up the majority of the NHL, with hockey-mad Canada leading the pack and their longtime foes United States second, setting the chance for one of Olympic hockey's great rivalries to renew in Milan.

Broadcasters will hope to make the most of that opportunity, after a politically charged 4 Nations Face-Off final between the United States and Canada delivered a record 9.3 million viewers on ESPN last year.

"A USA-Canada medal-round matchup? That's ‍appointment viewing," Solomon told Reuters. 

"With NHL players back and the buzz from the 4 Nations tournament, hockey becomes one of those tentpole events that everyone talks about."

'WE DON'T TAKE A BACKSEAT'

The United States men have not won gold since the 1980 tournament that featured