The NHL Is Not Allowing Players to Compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Here’s What to Know

The National Hockey League will not participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, which means some of the world's greatest hockey players, including Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, will not be allowed at the Games. The NHL decided earlier this year not to give its players a break during the 2017-18 season to compete for Team USA and other countries, and the issue remains controversial as the NHL's season gets underway on Oct. 4.