NHL Players to Compete in 2014 Sochi Olympics

Hockey fans can now be happy. The NHL, NHLPA, IIOC and IIHF have reached an agreement that will allow NHL players to participate in the 2014 Sochi Olympics next winter.

“The National Hockey League features the most international player population in professional sports, and our outstanding athletes take tremendous pride in representing their homelands on the global stage,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The decision to participate in the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi was in many ways a difficult one, but one that we know will be well received by our Players and, most importantly, by the vast majority of our fans and sports fans everywhere.”

All NHL teams will have a 17-day break from February 9 to February 26 as the games go on.

The teams participating in the Winter Games will be split in to three groups. The gold medal match will be held on the next to last day of the Olympics.

Here is the full schedule and breakdown for hockey in the 2014 Winter Olympics: