OT: Russia banned from 2018 Olympic Games

Alright, first off... Congratulations to the United States and Canada for coming 1-2 in the Pyeongchang Olympics in February. Secondly, this is going to lead to a wonderfully wacky hockey tournament, which I will go into in a second.

But yeah, I am not sure how many have been following, but Russia has been dealing with more than a bit of a doping scandal to their Olympic athletes. A scandal that uncovered that, essentially the Russian government had been bankrolling a doping scheme to inflate the participation levels of their Olympic athletes. (Why yes, it does have Rocky IV undertones, thanks for noticing). Well, today the ruling came out, and the IOC did the one thing the NCAA is incapable of doing... The Olympic power has been banned from the 2018 Games. For the individual competitors who might have been trying to compete, they'll still be allowed to participate as an unaffiliated individual, but all Russian teams are gone, and any potential competitor must prove they were not a part of the scandal before getting their clearance. Not as easy as it sounds.

But lets be real, Olympic hockey is really why most people tune in, and oh man is this going to be a mess. First of all, the NHL is not participating in these Olympic games. Looking forward to seeing Austin Matthews and arguably the most talented crop of US hockey athletes we've had in a very long time run to possibly their first Olympic gold since 1980? Too bad, the NHL is staying home and the players are actively banned from participating. Ovechkin had previously said he would play anyway, but was informed by the NHLPA how impossible a task that would have been. So then the thought was that Russia would end up dominating this thing, as the KHL was sending their players, and while that league is a distant second to the NHL, it is the second best professional hockey league internationally. Buuuut now with the Russian team banned, its looking like they're going to keep all their players out as well, effectively creating a massive void of the best international players in this tournament. We're at a stage where it really is wide open on who can win this, but its probably going to come down to the Canadian juniors or US collegians on who wins it all.

DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Comments

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Tajh Boyd over the middle . . . and it's caught for an interception! Michael Cole, lying flat on his back, ARE YOU KIDDING???"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Maroon helmet with orange gobbler logo is the best helmet.....change my mind.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"It's a Hokie takeover of The Hill ... in Charlottesville!" -Bill Roth

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
“I served in the United States Navy"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
“I served in the United States Navy"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
“I served in the United States Navy"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller