The flow of star players to European teams during the NHL lockout could distort national competitions, International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel said on Thursday
Rene Fasel said that he balanced the increased attention for European hockey against potential damage to the integrity of leagues, especially if players return to North America midseason.
“It’s questionable how fair it is to the others [teams] and the whole league system,” Fasel said by telephone from Tokyo, where the governing body has its congress next week.
“The integrity of the game is, for us, something very important. It’s not just business,” the world hockey leader said. “We play the game for the hockey fans, but sport should always be No. 1. Sport should also be about fairness to everybody.”
Since the lockout started on Sunday, players have turned to Europe to find playing time and salaries until the stalemate between the league and NHL players’ union is resolved.
Fasel said it was good for fans to see stars come home, including two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin to Russian club Dynamo Moscow and New York Islanders captain Mark Streit with Switzerland’s best-supported club, Bern.
“That is very positive, there’s no doubt,” said Fasel, a former Swiss league referee. “Mark Streit never played in Switzerland when he was a junior. Now he can come back and play for a top team as a big star — that’s a great story.”