Milan Cortina Olympics: IIHF President Addresses Concerns Over Main Hockey Rink
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) president, Luc Tardif, has addressed concerns over the main hockey rink for the Milan Cortina Olympics, stating that while parts of the arena may not be fully finished on time, the playing surface, practice facilities, and dressing rooms will be ready for the men’s event starting on February 11. Tardif made these comments during a press conference at the world junior championship, where he expressed confidence in the readiness of the essential facilities.
“We can be confident on that,” Tardif told reporters. “You’re not going to go to Milano for nothing.” The IIHF president’s assurance comes amidst concerns over construction delays and the quality of the ice surface, which have been raised by the National Hockey League (NHL) and other stakeholders.
Construction Delays and Concerns
Tardif noted that the main arena’s capacity will be 11,800 seats, which is slightly lower than expected. “That’s a little bit short,” he said, according to The Canadian Press. “But it will be a nice setup for the Olympic Games.” The construction delays and concerns over the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and secondary Rho facility have been a major topic of discussion in recent weeks, especially with the NHL returning to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014 and the women’s tournament opening on February 5.
The NHL has expressed concerns over the construction and the quality of the ice surface, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly stating that the league will not send its players if there are any safety concerns with the ice. The league is sending its own experts to Italy to ensure the ice is safe, and the facility features rinks smaller than NHL standards but still within IIHF standards.
IIHF and NHL Collaboration
Tardif emphasized that the IIHF is not responsible for overseeing construction, which is the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee and local organizing officials. However, the IIHF is working closely with the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association to ensure that the facilities meet the required standards. Tardif will be traveling to Italy with officials from the league and the NHLPA later this week for a test event at the venue.
“I’m confident about the quality of the infrastructure,” he said. “We would have liked to sleep much better… I think we will have a good competition, but maybe you can ask me the question after [this week].” The NHL was caught off guard when it became apparent that the two rinks’ dimensions will be slightly wider and 3 feet shorter than what the league and International Ice Hockey Federation agreed upon. Daly said the league and NHLPA have reminded the IIHF that they expect the ice surface to be standard NHL size at the 2030 Olympics in France.
