I would like to discuss the second area of concentration during the World Hockey Summit’s conversation on the creation of a Global Events Agenda. With my proposed switch to having the Olympic rosters revert to being mostly amateurs I believe that we still need a stage on which to showcase the best of the best, being the NHL and the elite European leagues. This would be accomplished by re-establishing the World Cup of Hockey.
The World Cup of Hockey originated in 1996 as the successor to the Canada Cup tournament which ran from 1976 to 1991 and was created to meet demand for a true world championship that allowed the best players from participating nations to compete regardless of their status as professional or amateur. After just two World Cups of Hockey the tournament was, unfortunately, pushed to the wayside and although there have been efforts to bring it back it has yet to return.
I propose that the NHL in cooperation with the IIHF, the KHL and the other elite European leagues bring back the World Cup of Hockey. It would occur on a 4 year schedule, taking place in late August or September in the same years as the Summer Olympics. The World Cup would serve as a great kickoff to the seasons for the NHL and European leagues. It would also provide foreign fans the opportunity to see their hometown heroes that play far from home. The World Cup could also open new revenue streams for the leagues and the players by providing exposure to new markets.
The World Cup of Hockey would be a terrific event if instituted properly. It would be a huge undertaking but if we could get enough communication between all parties it would benefit everyone. The best format would be to have one similar to the Olympics and allow the game to grow.
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