The moment Sidney Crosby shot Team Canada to the gold medal in the 2010 final against the United States in overtime and the crowd in Vancouver shook with ecstasy is one of those episodes that every hockey fan will remember for the rest of their lives.
The Olympic men's tournament in Beijing, which this Sunday (5.10 a.m. CET in the FAZ live ticker for the Olympics, on ARD and on Eurosport) with the final between Finland and the selection of the Russian Olympic Committee, had other snapshots to offer : Above all, they will fill the chapter in the history books in which the unadorned experiences that exist in this fast-paced team sport are collected.
The unctuous words with which Luc Tardif spoke in his preliminary assessment of the events could not hide the fact that the event was one thing above all: a missed opportunity.
During his visit to China, the President of the World Federation (IIHF) made no secret of his opinion that he would have preferred it if the best of the best had fought for victory and defeat.
But the NHL chose to boycott the event.
Tardif's hands were tied by the balance of power.
The NHL stands above everything?
There simply isn't an obligation to retire, it takes the good will of North American entertainment companies to temporarily let the best puck hunters perform on another stage.
For the second time, after banning the top people from participating in Pyeongchang in 2018, the powerful league bosses lowered their thumbs - and this time justified the step ostensibly with the corona pandemic.
In fact, they feared above all the risk of injury to their stars.
An own goal.
Because the NHL and the IIHF, Tardif confirmed, have a desire to expand in order to be able to keep up with the NBA basketball league, the NFL football spectacle or the Premier League in football in the international competition for the favor of fans, broadcasting times and sponsorship money.
They also want to grow towards the east.
The Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks have already made appearances in China.
The huge Asian market is tempting for any professional league.
The mistake in reasoning of the North American industry strategists is all the more substantial.
The NHL is above all in hockey?
Anyone who thinks like this harms a sport that is supposed to work worldwide;
even if he pretends to want to protect her in the short term.