Originally Posted by CDSmith

The Olympics were originally about the best amateurs in the world competing. Now it's more about the best athletes, pro or not.

The problem was, we were sending over our best junior hockey players, but teams from Russia etc were sending their pro men but saying they were amateur. For a few decades there we had little chance under those conditions until it all changed some time back in the mid 80's.

I don't think there's any going back now. Every country sends their best, and our best are in the NHL.