Hockey

CALGARY - Hockey Canada will fully insure all 46 players at next week's Olympic orientation camp in Calgary.

Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, made the announcement at a news conference today.

NHL teams are not responsible for insuring their players at Olympic events.

The NHL Players' Association recommended last month that players skip the on-ice portion of Olympic orientation camps because they would be taking an "unwarranted and unnecessary risk.''

The NHLPA didn't believe Hockey Canada provided enough insurance to cover players' current contracts and potential future earning power in the event of an injury.

"This is a major step for Hockey Canada to make," said Bob Nicholson,  Hockey Canada's president and CEO. "We wanted to put them in a position that they felt comfortable. The players won't have any questions about concerns about insurance and will be comfortable when they hit the ice for three days in Calgary."

In a statement, National Hockey League Players' Association executive director Paul Kelly expressed his satisfaction with Hockey Canada's decision.

"The NHLPA is pleased to learn today that Hockey Canada has decided to provide full insurance coverage for NHLPA members who have been invited to participate in the Canadian Olympic Orientation Camp next week in Calgary," said Kelly.

"The health and well-being of our members is of paramount importance to this Association, and our members would have been exposed to significant risk without the full coverage that is now being provided.

"NHLPA members are extremely proud when given the chance to represent their country on the international stage, and we are confident that this development will enhance the overall Olympic experience for these Canadian members."

The players will now be covered for all 82 regular-season games of the NHL season for the length of their contracts.

"It was more risky not to do it," said Nicholson. "If one of our top players got hurt and wasn't playing for the first 30 games, I know what the headlines would be in this country."

With files from The Canadian Press