Update:
Team Europe will not have an anthem at the World Cup of Hockey after the players agreed it would be disrespectful.
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Original Story:
Team Europe, a roster with players representing eight different countries, will have its own unique anthem played during the NHL’s upcoming World Cup of Hockey.
Team Europe is expected to have an "anthem" at the World Cup. Something instrumental with no words. The team's players span eight countries.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 5, 2016
The NHL painted itself into a corner regarding anthems when they decided eight countries – Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland – would represent Team Europe. Creating a new “anthem” is really the only solution, but the league will be under pressure to create something fitting and appropriate for those involved.
If an anthem is being created for Team Europe, does that mean there will be one created for Team North America as well? The Team Europe anthem is supposed to be something instrumental without any words (a good call, all things considered), but it would be interesting to see some sort of hybrid North American anthem.
The NHL needs to tread carefully regardless of what they do. National pride and anthems are a sensitive cultural topic and trying to create something new to reflect heritage is always a risky decision.
