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Seguin 'heartbroken' NHL won't participate in Olympics

Timothy T. Ludwig / USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Seguin had his heart set on the Olympics.

The NHL won't participate in the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, and it's a missed opportunity for at least one member of the Dallas Stars.

"It's a bit heartbreaking for sure," Seguin told reporters Friday. "Growing up as a kid, for myself at least, and I'm sure a lot of guys in the league, it was a dream to play in the NHL and win the Stanley Cup, and also represent your country. That's the pinnacle of sports and the pinnacle for a hockey player."

Seguin last represented Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championships, when he netted a tournament-leading nine goals in 10 games to help push Canada to a gold-medal victory. It marked Canada's first gold at the worlds since 2007.

The NHL has been involved in the past five Winter Olympics, beginning in Nagano, Japan in 1998. However, in April, the league announced it would not break for South Korea in the coming season.

"It's definitely not something I really support, not going. I wish we could," Seguin added. "But at the end of the day, you've got to go about the business."

As for Seguin, he's entering his fifth campaign suiting up for the Stars, a club that underwent a major offseason makeover in a bid to return to the playoffs after failing to qualify for the 2016 postseason.

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