The NHL and NHL Players Association released a statement Monday saying that both parties were “pleased” with the test event over the weekend at the Olympic hockey venue in Milan, but will continue to monitor progress on remaining issues.
Ongoing construction at Santagiulia Arena has been an ongoing concern in the leadup to next month’s Olympic men’s and women’s hockey tournaments.
NHL players are set to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, but deputy commissioner Bill Daly said last month that if the quality of the ice was deemed unsafe, “then we’re not going to play.”
However, Monday’s statement shared a more optimistic tone ahead of the Feb. 11-22 competition.
“We expect that the work necessary to address all remaining issues will continue around the clock,” the statement read. “The NHL and NHLPA will continue to monitor the situation, standing ready to consult and advise on the work being done to ensure that the local organizing committee, the IOC, and the IIHF deliver a tournament and playing conditions befitting the world’s best players.
“We were pleased that this weekend’s event was a good trial run and provided important insight into the current status.”
It followed Sunday’s statement by International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif that said, “There is no reason that the NHL will not come.”
The size of the rink has also been a topic of debate. The Olympic hockey surface approved by the IIHF is 196.85 feet by 83.5 feet — more than three feet shorter than the 200-foot length required in the NHL.
The IIHF said in a statement released by the Milano Cortina Foundation last month that, “While these dimensions differ slightly from a typical NHL rink, they are consistent with IIHF regulations, match the rink size used at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and are fully consistent with the dimensions the NHL requires as part of its Global Series Game arena specifications.
“All involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play.”
Of much bigger concern have been the construction issues at the Santagiulia Arena that have delayed its completion. That put a major spotlight on the test event over the weekend that included seven games played over a three-day stretch.
The Olympics will feature 32 games across the men’s and women’s competitions. The Athletic reported that while a hole appeared in the ice during the first test game on Friday, conditions “appeared to improve” over the weekend.
According to the report, the NHL and NHLPA had staff on site at the arena over the weekend. They also toured Milano Rho Arena, the secondary venue that will also play host to men’s and women’s games.
–Field Level Media
