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Luc Tardif, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, anticipates a “superb competition” next month when National Hockey League athletes participate in the Olympics again, even though the primary venue faces notable construction holdups.
Before Monday’s world junior hockey championship gold and bronze medal matches, Tardif further stated that while sections of the ice rink may not be entirely completed promptly, the playing area, training venues, and locker rooms will be prepared for the men’s competition commencement at the Milan Cortina Games on February 11.
The women’s competition is scheduled to commence even sooner, on February 5.
Tardif also mentioned that the stadium, referred to as Hockey 1, will not precisely match his expectations regarding spectator capacity, as the seating count is fixed at 11,800. The NHL’s most recent Olympic involvement occurred in 2014.
The 2026 Winter Olympics start in February, but the hockey rink where medal games will be played is still under construction. NHL officials have said they’ll pull their players from the Olympics if the ice isn’t safe.
The head of the IIHF indicated he plans to journey to Italy later this week, accompanied by representatives from the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, to oversee a trial event at the location.
Last month, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly stated that the league would cancel its players’ participation should any safety issues arise concerning the ice conditions.
