<P> Ice hockey is a sport that is contested at the Winter Olympic Games . A men 's ice hockey tournament has been held every Winter Olympics ( starting in 1924 ) ; an ice hockey tournament was also held at the 1920 Summer Olympics . From 1920 to 1968 , the Olympics also acted as the Ice Hockey World Championships , and the two events occurred concurrently . From 1920 until 1984 , only amateur athletes were allowed to compete in the tournament , and players from the National Hockey League ( NHL ) were not allowed to compete . The countries that benefited most were the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe , where top athletes were state - sponsored while retaining their status as amateurs . In 1970 , after a disagreement over the definition of amateur players , Canada withdrew from the tournament and did not send a team to the 1972 or 1976 Winter Olympics . In 1986 , the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) decided to allow professional athletes to compete in the Olympics , and starting in 1998 , the NHL allowed its players to participate . Women 's ice hockey was added in 1992 and the first tournament was held at the 1998 Winter Olympics . Both events have been held at every Olympic Games since . </P>
<P> Ice hockey is a sport that is contested at the Winter Olympic Games . A men 's ice hockey tournament has been held every Winter Olympics ( starting in 1924 ) ; an ice hockey tournament was also held at the 1920 Summer Olympics . From 1920 to 1968 , the Olympics also acted as the Ice Hockey World Championships , and the two events occurred concurrently . From 1920 until 1984 , only amateur athletes were allowed to compete in the tournament , and players from the National Hockey League ( NHL ) were not allowed to compete . The countries that benefited most were the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe , where top athletes were state - sponsored while retaining their status as amateurs . In 1970 , after a disagreement over the definition of amateur players , Canada withdrew from the tournament and did not send a team to the 1972 or 1976 Winter Olympics . In 1986 , the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) decided to allow professional athletes to compete in the Olympics , and starting in 1998 , the NHL allowed its players to participate . Women 's ice hockey was added in 1992 and the first tournament was held at the 1998 Winter Olympics . Both events have been held at every Olympic Games since . </P>
when did nhl players start playing in olympics
when did nhl players start playing in olympics
1998
1998