International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel said he had a good discussion Wednesday with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association Executive Director Don Fehr about the worlds top hockey players participating in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.No hitting, and no elbows, Fasel joked in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.Bettman described the meeting as constructive and candid.Still lots of issues, Bettman wrote in an email to the AP.Fasel said his job is to raise funds for the players transportation and insurance. The International Olympic Committee does not want to cover those costs as it has the previous five Olympics. Fasel hopes to persuade the IOC to financially support the NHLs participation.It is the only league that shuts down to participate in the Winter or Summer Olympics, Fasel said.Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly declined to comment on a Sportsnet report indicating the league has offered to sign off on allowing players to go for gold in South Korea in exchange for the union not opting out of the collective bargaining agreement in September 2019, which would in effect extend the deal for three years.There have been some suggestions that could be construed that that discussion would be worth having, Fehr told reporters in New York. Obviously, we discuss that with players. We have begun that process, but were a long way from done.Bettman has said a decision would need to be made by early January at the latest, giving the league time to create its 2017-18 schedule with or without a two-plus week break for the Olympics.Fasel isnt in a rush.We can wait longer because we want to do all we can to keep best-on-best hockey in the Olympics, Fasel said.NHL and NHLPA officials recently visited the Olympic site in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and have deemed it suitable for international competition.Whether the worlds best hockey players go to South Korea in about 15 months is up to the league and union, though Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has said he will go even if there isnt an agreement.The IOC spent about $14 million to cover travel and insurance costs for NHL players for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Fasel has said the bill would be about $10 million for the next Olympics because it wont be necessary to charter planes to South Korea as it was to get players to Sochi.The NHL hasnt sounded eager about going to South Korea, but does appear very interested in tapping into Chinas huge market in 2022.When the IOC awarded the Beijing Games, it certainly created a bigger opportunity than we thought existed potentially before, Daly said in September. But it is also possible that you dont go to one Olympics and you do go to the other. I dont think anybody has ruled that out as a possibility.Fasel has been trying to persuade national Olympic committees and hockey federations to donate funds to keep the games best players on the biggest stage in sports. He acknowledged the IIHF could possibly use some of the $40 million it gets from the IOC every four years and make cuts from its development programs for boys and girls.Its not going to be easy to get this done, but thats my job, Fasel said.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Custom Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Stitched Lakers Jerseys . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . 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North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie hasnt processed the fact he wont be lining up for the Kangaroos next season.But he accepts the clubs decision.Petrie, as well as North Melbourne veterans Brent Harvey, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo, were told this week their contracts would not be renewed.Coach Brad Scott told of his heartbreak in making a call which removes 1337 games worth of experience from the clubs list.A chunk of Kangaroos fans have shared their sadness and anger at the move, but theres none of those emotions from Petrie.The 33-year-old is a Kangaroo until the end, saying he stood behind Scotts decision even though it would end his 16-year stint at Arden Street.Id hate to get in the way of the future of this footy club and I want the club to thrive now and in the next generation, he told reporters on Friday.If the club doesnt see me as part of that Im absolutely fine with that.And Im happy to step aside and make sure this side can be finals contenders for the next five years as well.Petrie said Scott didnt deserve criticism for the decision, claiming the coach was enormous in (his) career and respectful in their dealings.He said he walked out of their meetinng on Tuesday in a haze after being told he wouldnt be offered a new deal.ddddddddddddWhen the words come out of the coachs mouth its a bit of a surreal moment, he said.You dont really absorb it until you go away and leave the club.There hasnt been any tears roll down my cheek yet. Maybe when I walk off the ground for the last time that might occur.Scott and the club have been criticised for the manner of the decision but Petrie said it was the right call and made the right way.The only part Id like to change is the unfair way Brads been treated in the last three days, he said.The way that the medias reported this decision and the backlash from small pockets of North Melbourne people has been poor and Im really disappointed thats the case.Tough decisions have been made but the hes got the best interests of the club at heart.Petrie said he hasnt thought about playing on in 2017 at another club as he remains focused on Saturday nights assignment against Greater Western Sydney, which is also the Kangaroos most likely elimination finals opponent. ' ' '